diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 7b048abe..2d8787de 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ jobs:
           - "1.11.4-erlang-21.3.8.24-alpine-3.13.3"
         mysql:
           - "5.7"
+          - "8.0"
     steps:
       - uses: earthly/actions-setup@v1
       - uses: actions/checkout@v3
diff --git a/Earthfile b/Earthfile
index 7c2163f4..2245a79f 100644
--- a/Earthfile
+++ b/Earthfile
@@ -110,7 +110,10 @@ integration-test-mysql:
         --pull "mysql:$MYSQL"
         RUN set -e; \
             timeout=$(expr $(date +%s) + 30); \
-            docker run --name mysql --network=host -d -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=root "mysql:$MYSQL" --sql_mode="ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY,STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,NO_ZERO_IN_DATE,NO_ZERO_DATE,ERROR_FOR_DIVISION_BY_ZERO,NO_AUTO_CREATE_USER,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION,ANSI_QUOTES"; \
+            docker run --name mysql --network=host -d -e MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD=root "mysql:$MYSQL" \
+            --sql_mode="ONLY_FULL_GROUP_BY,STRICT_TRANS_TABLES,NO_ZERO_IN_DATE,NO_ZERO_DATE,ERROR_FOR_DIVISION_BY_ZERO,NO_ENGINE_SUBSTITUTION,ANSI_QUOTES" \
+            # the default authentication plugin for MySQL 8 is sha 256 but it doesn't come with the docker image. falling back to the 5.7 way
+            --default-authentication-plugin=mysql_native_password; \
             # wait for mysql to start
             while ! mysqladmin ping --host=127.0.0.1 --port=3306 --protocol=TCP --silent; do \
                 test "$(date +%s)" -le "$timeout" || (echo "timed out waiting for mysql"; exit 1); \
diff --git a/integration_test/myxql/test_helper.exs b/integration_test/myxql/test_helper.exs
index 23d1857d..84402f8a 100644
--- a/integration_test/myxql/test_helper.exs
+++ b/integration_test/myxql/test_helper.exs
@@ -19,12 +19,21 @@ Application.put_env(:ecto_sql, TestRepo,
   url: Application.get_env(:ecto_sql, :mysql_test_url) <> "/ecto_test",
   pool: Ecto.Adapters.SQL.Sandbox,
   show_sensitive_data_on_connection_error: true,
+  after_connect: {Ecto.Integration.TestRepo, :set_connection_charset, []},
   log: false
 )
 
 defmodule Ecto.Integration.TestRepo do
   use Ecto.Integration.Repo, otp_app: :ecto_sql, adapter: Ecto.Adapters.MyXQL
 
+  def set_connection_charset(conn) do
+    %{rows: [[version]]} = MyXQL.query!(conn, "SELECT @@version", [])
+
+    if version >= "8.0.0" do
+      _ = MyXQL.query!(conn, "SET NAMES utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_0900_ai_ci;", [])
+    end
+  end
+
   def create_prefix(prefix) do
     "create database #{prefix}"
   end