diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index f5cd6fbf7776dd5b82fe32822ad5f6ea8225cff3..673b13cc9531c93a9bf1af89f5dc4e397e3e6674 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ $(JAR): $(OBJS)
 	@cd $(BUILD); ${JAVAPATH}/jar cfvM ../$@ ./* ; cd ..
 
 %.class: %.java
-	${JAVAPATH}/javac -Dfile.encoding=UTF-8 --release ${JAVARELEASE} -g -classpath ${CLASSPATH}:${JUNITCLASSPATH} -Xlint:all $<
+	${JAVAPATH}/javac --release ${JAVARELEASE} -g -classpath ${CLASSPATH}:${JUNITCLASSPATH} -Xlint:all $<
 
 doc: $(SOURCES)
 	javadoc -d doc/ $^