diff --git a/development.ini b/development.ini
--- a/development.ini
+++ b/development.ini
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ logview.pylons.util = #eee
 
 sqlalchemy.url = sqlite:///%(here)s/kallithea.db?timeout=60
 #sqlalchemy.url = postgresql://kallithea:password@localhost/kallithea
-#sqlalchemy.url = mysql://kallithea:password@localhost/kallithea?charset=utf8
+#sqlalchemy.url = mysql://kallithea:password@localhost/kallithea?charset=utf8mb4
 ## Note: the mysql:// prefix should also be used for MariaDB
 
 sqlalchemy.pool_recycle = 3600