diff --git a/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb.tt b/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb.tt
index c3d1578818..63783d7981 100644
--- a/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb.tt
+++ b/railties/lib/rails/generators/rails/app/templates/app/views/layouts/application.html.erb.tt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <!DOCTYPE html>
 <html>
 <head>
+  <meta charset="utf-8">
   <title><%= camelized %></title>
   <%- if options[:skip_javascript] -%>
   <%%= stylesheet_link_tag    "application", media: "all" %>
