diff --git a/libraries/src/Service/Provider/Database.php b/libraries/src/Service/Provider/Database.php
index 577de99b6f6be..417cf8971ddd1 100644
--- a/libraries/src/Service/Provider/Database.php
+++ b/libraries/src/Service/Provider/Database.php
@@ -90,6 +90,17 @@ function (Container $container)
 					'prefix'   => $conf->get('dbprefix'),
 				];
 
+				// Enable utf8mb4 connections for mysql adapters
+				if (strtolower($dbtype) === 'mysqli')
+				{
+					$options['utf8mb4'] = true;
+				}
+
+				if (strtolower($dbtype) === 'mysql')
+				{
+					$options['charset'] = 'utf8mb4';
+				}
+
 				if (JDEBUG)
 				{
 					$options['monitor'] = new \Joomla\Database\Monitor\DebugMonitor;