diff --git a/pandora_server/lib/PandoraFMS/Tools.pm b/pandora_server/lib/PandoraFMS/Tools.pm
index a6bc59c765..2b6c79f422 100755
--- a/pandora_server/lib/PandoraFMS/Tools.pm
+++ b/pandora_server/lib/PandoraFMS/Tools.pm
@@ -378,15 +378,20 @@ our $THRRUN :shared = 1;
 sub read_file($$) {
 	my ($path, $enc) = @_;
 
+	my $_FILE;
+
 	if ( $enc eq '' ) {
-		$enc = 'utf8';
+		if( !open($_FILE, "<", $path) ) {
+			# failed to open, return undef
+			return undef;
+		}
+	} else {
+		if( !open($_FILE, "<:encoding($enc)", $path) ) {
+			# failed to open, return undef
+			return undef;
+		}
 	}
 
-	my $_FILE;
-	if( !open($_FILE, "<:encoding($enc)", $path) ) {
-		# failed to open, return undef
-		return undef;
-	}
 
 	# Slurp configuration file content.
 	my $content = do { local $/; <$_FILE> };