diff --git a/.python-version b/.python-version
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..98fccd6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.python-version
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+3.8
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/external_command.py b/external_command.py
index bdcaeb4..56b3d2b 100644
--- a/external_command.py
+++ b/external_command.py
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ def run_command(self, region_text):
             stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
             shell=True,
             universal_newlines=True,
+            encoding="utf-8",
             env=env)
 
         stdout, stderr = self.proc.communicate(region_text)
@@ -290,7 +291,7 @@ def start(cmdline):
                 SublimeExternalCommandHistory.index = -1
                 panel = self.view.window().show_input_panel('Command:', "", start, None, None)
                 # This sets a scope to the input panel, which enables the history navigation commands.
-                panel.set_syntax_file('Packages/SublimeExternalCommand/external_command.hidden-tmLanguage')
+                panel.set_syntax_file('Packages/External Command/external_command.hidden-tmLanguage')
                 panel.settings().set('is_widget', True)
                 panel.settings().set('gutter', False)
                 panel.settings().set('rulers', [])