diff --git a/features/utf-8.feature b/features/utf-8.feature
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..161647cc2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/features/utf-8.feature
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+Feature: UTF-8
+
+  Scenario: Write then assert on the content of a file with UTF-8 characters in
+    Given a file named "turning-japanese" with:
+      """
+      フィーチャ
+
+      """
+    And I run `cat turning-japanese`
+    Then the output should contain exactly:
+      """
+      フィーチャ
+
+      """
diff --git a/lib/aruba/api.rb b/lib/aruba/api.rb
index fabac597d..3826b123a 100644
--- a/lib/aruba/api.rb
+++ b/lib/aruba/api.rb
@@ -183,22 +183,27 @@ def all_output
     end
 
     def assert_exact_output(expected, actual)
+      actual.force_encoding(expected.encoding) if RUBY_VERSION >= "1.9"
       unescape(actual).should == unescape(expected)
     end
 
     def assert_partial_output(expected, actual)
+      actual.force_encoding(expected.encoding) if RUBY_VERSION >= "1.9"
       unescape(actual).should include(unescape(expected))
     end
 
     def assert_matching_output(expected, actual)
+      actual.force_encoding(expected.encoding) if RUBY_VERSION >= "1.9"
       unescape(actual).should =~ /#{unescape(expected)}/m
     end
 
     def assert_not_matching_output(expected, actual)
+      actual.force_encoding(expected.encoding) if RUBY_VERSION >= "1.9"
       unescape(actual).should_not =~ /#{unescape(expected)}/m
     end
 
     def assert_no_partial_output(unexpected, actual)
+      actual.force_encoding(unexpected.encoding) if RUBY_VERSION >= "1.9"
       if Regexp === unexpected
         unescape(actual).should_not =~ unexpected
       else