diff --git a/capplets/file-types/file-types-capplet.c b/capplets/file-types/file-types-capplet.c
index 86208a7bf..46a4a93a3 100644
--- a/capplets/file-types/file-types-capplet.c
+++ b/capplets/file-types/file-types-capplet.c
@@ -179,6 +179,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 		
         bindtextdomain (PACKAGE, GNOMELOCALEDIR);
+	bind_textdomain_codeset (PACKAGE, "UTF-8");
         textdomain (PACKAGE);
 	
 	
diff --git a/capplets/mime-type/mime-type-capplet.c b/capplets/mime-type/mime-type-capplet.c
index 8d75d2cf5..6018b92f7 100644
--- a/capplets/mime-type/mime-type-capplet.c
+++ b/capplets/mime-type/mime-type-capplet.c
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
         int init_results;
 
         bindtextdomain (PACKAGE, GNOMELOCALEDIR);
+	bind_textdomain_codeset (PACKAGE, "UTF-8");
         textdomain (PACKAGE);
 
         init_results = gnome_capplet_init("mime-type", VERSION,
diff --git a/capplets/theme-switcher/main.c b/capplets/theme-switcher/main.c
index 90d1c68f0..7d14c87b1 100644
--- a/capplets/theme-switcher/main.c
+++ b/capplets/theme-switcher/main.c
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
   GtkWidget *w;
 
   bindtextdomain (PACKAGE, GNOMELOCALEDIR);
+  bind_textdomain_codeset (PACKAGE, "UTF-8");
   textdomain (PACKAGE);
 
   set_tmp_rc();
diff --git a/capplets/ui-properties/main.c b/capplets/ui-properties/main.c
index 32e169b4f..52ddaacc2 100644
--- a/capplets/ui-properties/main.c
+++ b/capplets/ui-properties/main.c
@@ -193,6 +193,7 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	gchar *restart_args[3];
 
 	bindtextdomain (PACKAGE, GNOMELOCALEDIR);
+	bind_textdomain_codeset (PACKAGE, "UTF-8");
 	textdomain (PACKAGE);
 
 	glade_gnome_init ();
diff --git a/capplets/url-properties/url-properties.c b/capplets/url-properties/url-properties.c
index cc6c53d67..e5520dff9 100644
--- a/capplets/url-properties/url-properties.c
+++ b/capplets/url-properties/url-properties.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
   gint init_ret;
 
   bindtextdomain(PACKAGE, GNOMELOCALEDIR);
+  bind_textdomain_codeset (PACKAGE, "UTF-8");
   textdomain(PACKAGE);
 
   gnome_program_init ("url-properties", VERSION,