diff --git a/distribution/bin/check-licenses.py b/distribution/bin/check-licenses.py
index b80bfeba840..4b47947239a 100755
--- a/distribution/bin/check-licenses.py
+++ b/distribution/bin/check-licenses.py
@@ -323,8 +323,8 @@ def check_licenses(license_yaml, dependency_reports_root):
     # Build registered license dictionary.
     registered_dep_to_licenses = {}
     skipping_licenses = {}
-    with open(license_yaml) as registry_file:
-        licenses_list = list(yaml.load_all(registry_file))
+    with open(license_yaml, encoding='utf-8') as registry_file:
+        licenses_list = list(yaml.load_all(registry_file, Loader=yaml.FullLoader))
     for license in licenses_list:
         if 'libraries' in license:
             for library in license['libraries']: