diff --git a/database/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/PropertyValue.java b/database/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/PropertyValue.java
index 221020ff..9c8cb1b6 100644
--- a/database/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/PropertyValue.java
+++ b/database/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/PropertyValue.java
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ public BytesStore(byte [] value) {
 
         @Override
         public String getValueAsString() {
-            return new String(this.value);
+            return new String(this.value, StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
         }
 
         @Override
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ public SealedStore(CharSequence charSequence) {
 
          @Override
         public String getValueAsString() {
-            return new String(getBytes());
+            return new String(getBytes(), StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
         }
 
         @Override
diff --git a/example/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/kdbx/QuickStart.java b/example/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/kdbx/QuickStart.java
index 3ea075f5..f91dc774 100644
--- a/example/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/kdbx/QuickStart.java
+++ b/example/src/main/java/org/linguafranca/pwdb/kdbx/QuickStart.java
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ public void saveKdbx() throws IOException {
         }
 
         // save to a file with password "123"
+        new File("testOutput").mkdirs();
         try (FileOutputStream outputStream = new FileOutputStream("testOutput/test.kdbx")) {
             database.save(new KdbxCreds("123".getBytes()), outputStream);
         }