diff --git a/lib/database_collation.rb b/lib/database_collation.rb
index 9716ea3475a..5753ee56328 100644
--- a/lib/database_collation.rb
+++ b/lib/database_collation.rb
@@ -59,6 +59,13 @@ def supported_collations
         map { |row| row['collname'] }
   end
 
+  def database_encoding
+    @database_encoding ||= connection.execute("SELECT encoding FROM " \
+                                "pg_database WHERE datname = " \
+                                "'#{connection.current_database}';").
+                                first["encoding"]
+  end
+
   def adapter_name
     @adapter_name ||= connection.adapter_name
   end