diff --git a/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader.rb b/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader.rb
index 37e51536e8f..1d7ddeb3e0f 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader.rb
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ module Gitlab
           end
 
           chunks.join.lines.last(max_lines).join
+            .force_encoding(Encoding.default_external)
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader_spec.rb
index f06d78694d6..ff5551bf703 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/ci/trace_reader_spec.rb
@@ -11,13 +11,25 @@ describe Gitlab::Ci::TraceReader do
       last_lines = random_lines
 
       expected = lines.last(last_lines).join
+      result = subject.read(last_lines: last_lines)
 
-      expect(subject.read(last_lines: last_lines)).to eq(expected)
+      expect(result).to eq(expected)
+      expect(result.encoding).to eq(Encoding.default_external)
     end
   end
 
   it 'returns everything if trying to get too many lines' do
-    expect(build_subject.read(last_lines: lines.size * 2)).to eq(lines.join)
+    result = build_subject.read(last_lines: lines.size * 2)
+
+    expect(result).to eq(lines.join)
+    expect(result.encoding).to eq(Encoding.default_external)
+  end
+
+  it 'returns all contents if last_lines is not specified' do
+    result = build_subject.read
+
+    expect(result).to eq(lines.join)
+    expect(result.encoding).to eq(Encoding.default_external)
   end
 
   it 'raises an error if not passing an integer for last_lines' do