diff --git a/src/DatabaseLibrary/connection_manager.py b/src/DatabaseLibrary/connection_manager.py
index de76d53..ae547fe 100644
--- a/src/DatabaseLibrary/connection_manager.py
+++ b/src/DatabaseLibrary/connection_manager.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ def connect_to_database(self, dbapiModuleName=None, dbName=None, dbUsername=None
         if dbapiModuleName in ["MySQLdb", "pymysql"]:
             dbPort = dbPort or 3306
             logger.info('Connecting using : %s.connect(db=%s, user=%s, passwd=%s, host=%s, port=%s, charset=%s) ' % (dbapiModuleName, dbName, dbUsername, dbPassword, dbHost, dbPort, dbCharset))
-            self._dbconnection = db_api_2.connect(db=dbName, user=dbUsername, passwd=dbPassword, host=dbHost, port=dbPort, charset=dbCharset)
+            self._dbconnection = db_api_2.connect(db=dbName, user=dbUsername, passwd=dbPassword, host=dbHost, port=dbPort, charset='utf8mb4' or dbCharset)
         elif dbapiModuleName in ["psycopg2"]:
             dbPort = dbPort or 5432
             logger.info('Connecting using : %s.connect(database=%s, user=%s, password=%s, host=%s, port=%s) ' % (dbapiModuleName, dbName, dbUsername, dbPassword, dbHost, dbPort))
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def connect_to_database(self, dbapiModuleName=None, dbName=None, dbUsername=None
             dbPort = dbPort or 1433
             dbDriver = dbDriver or "{SQL Server}"
             logger.info('Connecting using : %s.connect(DRIVER=%s;SERVER=%s:%s;DATABASE=%s;UID=%s;PWD=%s)' % (dbapiModuleName, dbDriver,  dbHost, dbPort, dbName, dbUsername, dbPassword))
-            self._dbconnection = db_api_2.connect('DRIVER=%s;SERVER=%s:%s;DATABASE=%s;UID=%s;PWD=%s' % ( dbDriver, dbHost, dbPort, dbName, dbUsername, dbPassword))
+            self._dbconnection = db_api_2.connect('DRIVER=%s;SERVER=%s:%s;DATABASE=%s;UID=%s;PWD=%s;charset=%s' % (dbDriver, dbHost, dbPort, dbName, dbUsername, dbPassword, 'utf8mb4' or dbCharset))
         elif dbapiModuleName in ["excel"]:
             logger.info(
                 'Connecting using : %s.connect(DRIVER={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls, *.xlsx, *.xlsm, *.xlsb)};DBQ=%s;ReadOnly=1;Extended Properties="Excel 8.0;HDR=YES";)' % (
diff --git a/test/resources/common.resource b/test/resources/common.resource
index e85a7e4..6b78a1b 100644
--- a/test/resources/common.resource
+++ b/test/resources/common.resource
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ ${DB_PORT}              5432
 ${DB_USER}              db_user
 
 # used for MySQL via PyODBC only
-${DB_CHARSET}           ${None}
 ${DB_DRIVER}            ODBC Driver 18 for SQL Server
 
 
@@ -42,8 +41,7 @@ Connect To DB
             ...    ${DB_PASS}
             ...    ${DB_HOST}
             ...    ${DB_PORT}
-            ...    ${DB_CHARSET}
-            ...    ${DB_DRIVER}
+            ...    dbDriver=${DB_DRIVER}
         ELSE
             Connect To Database
             ...    ${DB_MODULE}
diff --git a/test/tests/common_tests/encoding.robot b/test/tests/common_tests/encoding.robot
index ce8c03a..b7dd2d9 100644
--- a/test/tests/common_tests/encoding.robot
+++ b/test/tests/common_tests/encoding.robot
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Test Teardown       Drop Tables Person And Foobar
 
 
 *** Test Cases ***
-Character In Values
+Non ASCII Characters In Values
     Execute Sql String    INSERT INTO person VALUES(1,'Jürgen','Gernegroß')
     ${results}=    Query
     ...    SELECT LAST_NAME FROM person WHERE FIRST_NAME='Jürgen'