diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 2fece1b..cfc3ab8 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -7865,7 +7865,7 @@ async function run() {
     const body = core.getInput('body', { required: false });
     let bodyFile = null;
     try {
-      bodyFile = fs.readFileSync(body);
+      bodyFile = fs.readFileSync(body, { encoding: 'string' });
     } catch (e) {
       // noop
     }
diff --git a/src/create-release.js b/src/create-release.js
index 26c2088..9eb976f 100644
--- a/src/create-release.js
+++ b/src/create-release.js
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ async function run() {
     const body = core.getInput('body', { required: false });
     let bodyFile = null;
     try {
-      bodyFile = fs.readFileSync(body);
+      bodyFile = fs.readFileSync(body, { encoding: 'string' });
     } catch (e) {
       // noop
     }