diff --git a/core/smn_database.cpp b/core/smn_database.cpp
index bb156147..5f6c3a97 100644
--- a/core/smn_database.cpp
+++ b/core/smn_database.cpp
@@ -1407,6 +1407,23 @@ static cell_t SQL_ConnectCustom(IPluginContext *pContext, const cell_t *params)
 	return hndl;
 }
 
+static cell_t SQL_SetCharset(IPluginContext *pContext, const cell_t *params)
+{
+	IDatabase *db = NULL;
+	HandleError err;
+
+	if ((err = g_DBMan.ReadHandle(params[1], DBHandle_Database, (void **)&db))
+		!= HandleError_None)
+	{
+		return pContext->ThrowNativeError("Invalid database Handle %x (error: %d)", params[1], err);
+	}
+
+	char *characterset;
+	pContext->LocalToString(params[2], &characterset);
+
+	return db->SetCharacterSet(characterset);
+}
+
 REGISTER_NATIVES(dbNatives)
 {
 	{"SQL_BindParamInt",		SQL_BindParamInt},
@@ -1448,6 +1465,7 @@ REGISTER_NATIVES(dbNatives)
 	{"SQL_TQuery",				SQL_TQuery},
 	{"SQL_UnlockDatabase",		SQL_UnlockDatabase},
 	{"SQL_ConnectCustom",		SQL_ConnectCustom},
+	{"SQL_SetCharset",		SQL_SetCharset},
 	{NULL,						NULL},
 };
 
diff --git a/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.cpp b/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.cpp
index e62ccbfd..9b338ed1 100644
--- a/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.cpp
+++ b/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.cpp
@@ -326,3 +326,8 @@ IDBDriver *MyDatabase::GetDriver()
 {
 	return &g_MyDriver;
 }
+
+bool MyDatabase::SetCharacterSet(const char *characterset)
+{
+	return mysql_set_character_set(m_mysql, characterset) == 0 ? true : false;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.h b/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.h
index 12420ab2..50594b6e 100644
--- a/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.h
+++ b/extensions/mysql/mysql/MyDatabase.h
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ public: //IDatabase
 	IQuery *DoQueryEx(const char *query, size_t len);
 	unsigned int GetAffectedRowsForQuery(IQuery *query);
 	unsigned int GetInsertIDForQuery(IQuery *query);
+	bool SetCharacterSet(const char *characterset);
 public:
 	const DatabaseInfo &GetInfo();
 private:
diff --git a/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.cpp b/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.cpp
index dfe0325f..7686edda 100644
--- a/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.cpp
+++ b/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.cpp
@@ -254,3 +254,9 @@ sqlite3 *SqDatabase::GetDb()
 {
 	return m_sq3;
 }
+
+bool SqDatabase::SetCharacterSet(const char *characterset)
+{
+	// sqlite only supports utf8 and utf16 - by the time the database is created. It's too late here.
+	return false;
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.h b/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.h
index ec016077..72b2405c 100644
--- a/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.h
+++ b/extensions/sqlite/driver/SqDatabase.h
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ public:
 	IQuery *DoQueryEx(const char *query, size_t len);
 	unsigned int GetAffectedRowsForQuery(IQuery *query);
 	unsigned int GetInsertIDForQuery(IQuery *query);
+	bool SetCharacterSet(const char *characterset);
 public:
 	sqlite3 *GetDb();
 private:
diff --git a/plugins/include/dbi.inc b/plugins/include/dbi.inc
index 71a784bd..4cb12e2c 100644
--- a/plugins/include/dbi.inc
+++ b/plugins/include/dbi.inc
@@ -249,6 +249,18 @@ native SQL_GetDriverIdent(Handle:driver, String:ident[], maxlength);
  */
 native SQL_GetDriverProduct(Handle:driver, String:product[], maxlength);
 
+/**
+ * Sets the character set of the current connection. 
+ * Like SET NAMES .. in mysql, but stays after connection problems.
+ * 
+ * Example: "utf8", "latin1"
+ *
+ * @param database      Database Handle.
+ * @param characterset  The character set string to change to.
+ * @return              True, if character set was changed, false otherwise.
+ */
+native bool:SQL_SetCharset(Handle:database, const String:charset[]);
+
 /**
  * Returns the number of affected rows from the last query.
  *
diff --git a/public/IDBDriver.h b/public/IDBDriver.h
index adad660a..7d13e148 100644
--- a/public/IDBDriver.h
+++ b/public/IDBDriver.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
  */
 
 #define SMINTERFACE_DBI_NAME		"IDBI"
-#define SMINTERFACE_DBI_VERSION		8
+#define SMINTERFACE_DBI_VERSION		9
 
 namespace SourceMod
 {
@@ -600,6 +600,13 @@ namespace SourceMod
 		 *						if applicable.
 		 */
 		virtual unsigned int GetInsertIDForQuery(IQuery *query) =0;
+
+		/**
+		 * @brief Sets the character set of the current connection
+		 *
+		 * @param characterset  The characterset to switch to. e.g. "utf8".
+		 */
+		virtual bool SetCharacterSet(const char *characterset) =0;
 	};
 
 	/**