diff --git a/build_defs/cpp_opts.bzl b/build_defs/cpp_opts.bzl
index f667a40881fd4..46b60252f62ba 100644
--- a/build_defs/cpp_opts.bzl
+++ b/build_defs/cpp_opts.bzl
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ COPTS = select({
         "/wd4506",  # no definition for inline function 'function'
         "/wd4800",  # 'type' : forcing value to bool 'true' or 'false' (performance warning)
         "/wd4996",  # The compiler encountered a deprecated declaration.
-        "/utf-8",  # Set source and execution character sets to UTF-8
     ],
     "//conditions:default": [
         "-DHAVE_ZLIB",