diff --git a/tests/testdata/provider/testdata_pg.sh b/tests/testdata/provider/testdata_pg.sh
index 74cbf0b5f93..341bddc2795 100755
--- a/tests/testdata/provider/testdata_pg.sh
+++ b/tests/testdata/provider/testdata_pg.sh
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ SCRIPTS="
 "
 
 dropdb qgis_test 2> /dev/null || true
-createdb qgis_test || exit 1
+createdb qgis_test -E UTF8 -T template0 || exit 1
 for f in ${SCRIPTS}; do
   psql -q --echo-errors -f $f qgis_test -v ON_ERROR_STOP=1
 done