diff --git a/jedi/_compatibility.py b/jedi/_compatibility.py
index 78abf874..b2980c4d 100644
--- a/jedi/_compatibility.py
+++ b/jedi/_compatibility.py
@@ -185,5 +185,7 @@ except ImportError:
 
 try:
     encoding = sys.stdout.encoding
+    if encoding is None:
+        encoding = 'utf-8'
 except AttributeError:
     encoding = 'ascii'