=== src/embed.c
==================================================================
--- src/embed.c	(revision 39883)
+++ src/embed.c	(local)
@@ -644,7 +644,7 @@
     for (i = 0; i < argc; i++) {
         /* Run through argv, adding everything to @ARGS. */
         STRING * const arg =
-            string_make(interp, argv[i], strlen(argv[i]), NULL,
+            string_make(interp, argv[i], strlen(argv[i]), "unicode",
                 PObj_external_FLAG);
 
         if (Interp_debug_TEST(interp, PARROT_START_DEBUG_FLAG))