diff --git a/bazarr/embedded_subs_reader.py b/bazarr/embedded_subs_reader.py
index b4961f7d9..0c4a3a100 100644
--- a/bazarr/embedded_subs_reader.py
+++ b/bazarr/embedded_subs_reader.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import enzyme
 import logging
 import os
 import subprocess
+import locale
 
 from utils import get_binary
 
@@ -18,7 +19,7 @@ class EmbeddedSubsReader:
     def list_languages(self, file):
         if self.ffprobe:
             try:
-                return subprocess.check_output([self.ffprobe, "-loglevel", "error", "-select_streams", "s", "-show_entries", "stream_tags=language", "-of", "csv=p=0", file], universal_newlines=True, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).strip().split("\n")
+                return subprocess.check_output([self.ffprobe, "-loglevel", "error", "-select_streams", "s", "-show_entries", "stream_tags=language", "-of", "csv=p=0", file.encode(locale.getpreferredencoding())], universal_newlines=True, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).strip().split("\n")
             except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
                 raise FFprobeError(e.output)
         if os.path.splitext(file)[1] != '.mkv':