--- a/python/mozlint/mozlint/cli.py
+++ b/python/mozlint/mozlint/cli.py
@@ -96,16 +96,20 @@ def run(paths, linters, fmt, rev, workdi
 
     lint = LintRoller(**lintargs)
     lint.read(find_linters(linters))
 
     # run all linters
     results = lint.roll(paths, rev=rev, workdir=workdir)
 
     formatter = formatters.get(fmt)
-    print(formatter(results))
+
+    # Explicitly utf-8 encode the output as some of the formatters make
+    # use of unicode characters. This will prevent a UnicodeEncodeError
+    # on environments where utf-8 isn't the default
+    print(formatter(results).encode('utf-8', 'replace'))
     return 1 if results else 0
 
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     parser = MozlintParser()
     args = vars(parser.parse_args())
     sys.exit(run(**args))