diff --git a/samba/manifests/init.pp b/samba/manifests/init.pp
index 5d1ecff..aed3228 100644
--- a/samba/manifests/init.pp
+++ b/samba/manifests/init.pp
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ class samba::server::configs {
 #         full ad realm name.
 #     $localconf:
 #         Source of optional local configuration.
+#     $charset:
+#         Charset the unix machine Samba runs on uses. Defaults to iso-8859-1.
 #
 # === Global variables
 #
@@ -105,6 +107,7 @@ class samba::server(
     $auth="tdbsam",
     $workgroup="WORKGROUP",
     $description="Samba Server Version %v",
+    $charset="iso-8859-1",
     $interfaces=undef,
     $localconf=undef,
 ) {
diff --git a/samba/templates/smb.conf.erb b/samba/templates/smb.conf.erb
index 567e635..8a77f6f 100644
--- a/samba/templates/smb.conf.erb
+++ b/samba/templates/smb.conf.erb
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ kerberos method = secrets and keytab
 log file = /var/log/samba/%m.log
 max log size = 131072
 
-unix charset = iso-8859-1
+unix charset = <%= @charset %>
 unix extensions = no
 wide links = no