diff --git a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
index 081c1185a5e..94718595cb1 100644
--- a/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
+++ b/django/db/backends/mysql/base.py
@@ -80,6 +80,8 @@ class DatabaseWrapper(local):
         if not self._valid_connection():
             kwargs = {
                 'conv': django_conversions,
+                'charset': 'utf8',
+                'use_unicode': False,
             }
             if settings.DATABASE_USER:
                 kwargs['user'] = settings.DATABASE_USER