diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index 33bf8bb..02ab259 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -1,16 +1,17 @@
 #!/usr/bin/make -f
 
 export PYBUILD_NAME=swh.indexer
 export PYBUILD_TEST_ARGS=-m 'not db and not fs'
+export LC_ALL=C.UTF-8
 
 %:
 	dh $@ --with python3 --buildsystem=pybuild
 
 override_dh_install:
 	dh_install
 	rm -v $(CURDIR)/debian/python3-*/usr/lib/python*/dist-packages/swh/__init__.py
 	for pyvers in $(shell py3versions -vr); do \
 		mkdir -p $(CURDIR)/debian/python3-swh.indexer.storage/usr/lib/python$$pyvers/dist-packages/swh/indexer/storage/ ; \
 		mv $(CURDIR)/debian/python3-swh.indexer/usr/lib/python$$pyvers/dist-packages/swh/indexer/storage/* \
 		   $(CURDIR)/debian/python3-swh.indexer.storage/usr/lib/python$$pyvers/dist-packages/swh/indexer/storage/ ; \
 	done