diff --git a/classes/db/mysqli.php b/classes/db/mysqli.php
index deb29f264..817b48c0c 100644
--- a/classes/db/mysqli.php
+++ b/classes/db/mysqli.php
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class Db_Mysqli implements IDb {
 		$this->query("SET time_zone = '+0:0'");
 
 		if (defined('MYSQL_CHARSET') && MYSQL_CHARSET) {
-			$this->query("SET NAMES " . MYSQL_CHARSET);
+			mysqli_set_charset($this->link, MYSQL_CHARSET);
 		}
 
 		return true;