diff --git a/tools/memory_tool.py b/tools/memory_tool.py
index eef64e709669b..b7d1af0d15fbb 100644
--- a/tools/memory_tool.py
+++ b/tools/memory_tool.py
@@ -417,6 +417,9 @@ def _read_file(path: Path) -> List[str]:
             return []
         try:
             raw = path.read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+            # Strip UTF-8 BOM if present (common when files are edited on Windows)
+            if raw.startswith("\ufeff"):
+                raw = raw[1:]
         except (OSError, IOError):
             return []