diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 82c72f43c61..0f05649a96c 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 What is SaltStack?
 ==================
 
-SaltStack makes software for complex systems management at scale.
+SaltStack makes software for complex systems management at scale.
 SaltStack is the company that created and maintains the Salt Open
 project and develops and sells SaltStack Enterprise software, services
 and support. Easy enough to get running in minutes, scalable enough to
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 8b1cc717ff3..bfdfc34a943 100755
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -874,7 +874,10 @@ class SaltDistribution(distutils.dist.Distribution):
         self.name = 'salt-ssh' if PACKAGED_FOR_SALT_SSH else 'salt'
         self.salt_version = __version__  # pylint: disable=undefined-variable
         self.description = 'Portable, distributed, remote execution and configuration management system'
-        with open(SALT_LONG_DESCRIPTION_FILE) as f:
+        kwargs = {}
+        if IS_PY3:
+            kwargs['encoding'] = 'utf-8'
+        with open(SALT_LONG_DESCRIPTION_FILE, **kwargs) as f:
             self.long_description = f.read()
         self.long_description_content_type = 'text/x-rst'
         self.author = 'Thomas S Hatch'