diff --git a/pddnsc/outputs/files.py b/pddnsc/outputs/files.py
index 1176d2e..454e8fc 100644
--- a/pddnsc/outputs/files.py
+++ b/pddnsc/outputs/files.py
@@ -70,5 +70,5 @@ class StateHashFile(GenericTextFile):
         state_str = (self.save_ipv4 and addr_v4 or "") + (
             self.save_ipv6 and addr_v6 or ""
         )
-        sha = hashlib.sha256(state_str.encode(encoding="utf-8"))
+        sha = hashlib.sha256(state_str.encode(encoding=self.encoding))
         self.content = sha.hexdigest()