diff --git a/.github/workflows/backend_tests.yml b/.github/workflows/backend_tests.yml
index 99dff06f..71d1ad8b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/backend_tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/backend_tests.yml
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ jobs:
           mysql version: "8.0"
           mysql database: "spiffworkflow_backend_unit_testing"
           mysql root password: password
+          collation server: 'utf8mb4_0900_as_cs'
         if: matrix.database == 'mysql'
 
       - name: Setup Postgres