diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index cb0f702..e609908 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # Version number followed by the release date
 
 1.2.1.5
+  * Use the same default encoding to read and write file (Bug #234)
   * Only show SSE2 warning in debug build
   * Bug #228 Misleading translation when file was changed externally, may lead to data loss
   * Bug #227 Dead Link: Help > Forum
diff --git a/src/xmlcopyeditor.cpp b/src/xmlcopyeditor.cpp
index af58997..46a6bb2 100644
--- a/src/xmlcopyeditor.cpp
+++ b/src/xmlcopyeditor.cpp
@@ -3139,7 +3139,11 @@ bool MyFrame::openFile ( const wxString &file, bool largeFile )
 		es.parse ( docBuffer, docBufferLen );
 		encoding = es.getEncoding();
 		if ( encoding.empty() )  // Expat couldn't parse file (e.g. UTF-32)
+		{
 			encoding = getApproximateEncoding ( docBuffer, docBufferLen );
+			if ( encoding.empty() )
+				encoding = "UTF-8";
+		}
 	}
 
 	// convert buffer if not UTF-8