diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7185b67..ca83318 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,10 +24,6 @@ Tested and working on Linux, OSX and Cygwin.
 
 ### Options
 
-    # utf8 is on
-    set -g utf8 on
-    set -g status-utf8 on
-
     # address vim mode switching delay (http://superuser.com/a/252717/65504)
     set -s escape-time 0
 
diff --git a/sensible.tmux b/sensible.tmux
index 5cf2af6..b2f0ab6 100755
--- a/sensible.tmux
+++ b/sensible.tmux
@@ -67,12 +67,6 @@ key_binding_not_changed() {
 main() {
 	# OPTIONS
 
-	# enable utf8 (option removed in tmux 2.2)
-	tmux set-option -g utf8 on 2>/dev/null
-
-	# enable utf8 in tmux status-left and status-right (option removed in tmux 2.2)
-	tmux set-option -g status-utf8 on 2>/dev/null
-
 	# address vim mode switching delay (http://superuser.com/a/252717/65504)
 	if server_option_value_not_changed "escape-time" "500"; then
 		tmux set-option -s escape-time 0