diff --git a/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt b/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt
index 00fa421e4..ac5227b83 100644
--- a/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt
+++ b/base/src/main/kotlin/de/staropensource/engine/base/Engine.kt
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@ import de.staropensource.engine.base.logging.Logger
 import de.staropensource.engine.base.utility.Environment
 import de.staropensource.engine.base.utility.FileAccess
 import de.staropensource.engine.base.utility.dnihbd.BuildInformation
+import java.nio.charset.Charset
+import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets
 
 /**
  * Primary class of the engine.
@@ -159,7 +161,9 @@ class Engine private constructor() {
                 logger.info("Bootstrapping")
 
                 // Run bootstrapping code
-                // *none yet*
+                // -> Run checks
+                if (Charset.defaultCharset() != StandardCharsets.UTF_8)
+                    logger.crash("The StarOpenSource Engine does not support other charsets than UTF-8")
 
                 // Bootstrap subsystems
                 logger.verb("Bootstrapping subsystems")