diff --git a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Database.py b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Database.py
index 03d4192..59accc8 100644
--- a/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Database.py
+++ b/sopel_modules/SpiceBot/Database.py
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ class BotDatabase():
                                 'configuration values are defined: '
                                 'db_user, db_pass, db_host')
             SopelDB.url = URL(drivername=drivername, username=db_user, password=db_pass,
-                           host=db_host, port=db_port, database=db_name, use_unicode=True, charset="utf8")
+                           host=db_host, port=db_port, database=db_name, charset="utf8")
         SopelDB.engine = create_engine(SopelDB.url)
 
         sopel.db.NickValues = NickValues