diff --git a/makedist.inc.sh b/makedist.inc.sh
index 7a12e9c..b2b5469 100644
--- a/makedist.inc.sh
+++ b/makedist.inc.sh
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ KEYMAP=$KEYMAP
 FONT=lat9w-16
 FONT_MAP=8859-1_to_uni
 FONT_UNIMAP=
+UNICODE=1
 _EOF
 
    # legacy