diff --git a/zerver/data_import/mattermost.py b/zerver/data_import/mattermost.py
index 9dcf0feeb0..af5a271a33 100644
--- a/zerver/data_import/mattermost.py
+++ b/zerver/data_import/mattermost.py
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ def process_raw_message_batch(
         )
 
         # html2text is GPL licensed, so run it as a subprocess.
-        content = subprocess.check_output(["html2text"], input=content, text=True)
+        content = subprocess.check_output(["html2text", "--unicode-snob"], input=content, text=True)
 
         if len(content) > 10000:  # nocoverage
             logging.info("skipping too-long message of length %s", len(content))
diff --git a/zerver/lib/email_notifications.py b/zerver/lib/email_notifications.py
index f487605421..d870d7c13c 100644
--- a/zerver/lib/email_notifications.py
+++ b/zerver/lib/email_notifications.py
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ def enqueue_welcome_emails(user: UserProfile, realm_creation: bool = False) -> N
 def convert_html_to_markdown(html: str) -> str:
     # html2text is GPL licensed, so run it as a subprocess.
     markdown = subprocess.check_output(
-        [os.path.join(sys.prefix, "bin", "html2text")], input=html, text=True
+        [os.path.join(sys.prefix, "bin", "html2text"), "--unicode-snob"], input=html, text=True
     ).strip()
 
     # We want images to get linked and inline previewed, but html2text will turn
diff --git a/zerver/tests/test_email_notifications.py b/zerver/tests/test_email_notifications.py
index 68c59a0a47..9ce37b5352 100644
--- a/zerver/tests/test_email_notifications.py
+++ b/zerver/tests/test_email_notifications.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from django.utils.timezone import now as timezone_now
 from django_auth_ldap.config import LDAPSearch
 
 from zerver.lib.email_notifications import (
+    convert_html_to_markdown,
     enqueue_welcome_emails,
     get_onboarding_email_schedule,
     send_account_registered_email,
@@ -671,3 +672,10 @@ class TestCustomWelcomeEmailSender(ZulipTestCase):
             email_data = orjson.loads(scheduled_emails[0].data)
             self.assertEqual(email_data["from_name"], name)
             self.assertEqual(email_data["from_address"], email)
+
+
+class TestHtmlToMarkdown(ZulipTestCase):
+    def test_html_to_markdown_unicode(self) -> None:
+        self.assertEqual(
+            convert_html_to_markdown("a rose is not a rosé"), "a rose is not a rosé"
+        )