diff --git a/test/lint/lint-python-utf8-encoding.py b/test/lint/lint-python-utf8-encoding.py
index 64d04bff57c..8c9266470f1 100755
--- a/test/lint/lint-python-utf8-encoding.py
+++ b/test/lint/lint-python-utf8-encoding.py
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def check_fileopens():
         if e.returncode > 1:
             raise e
 
-    filtered_fileopens = [fileopen for fileopen in fileopens if not re.search(r"encoding=.(ascii|utf8|utf-8).|open\([^,]*, ['\"][^'\"]*b[^'\"]*['\"]", fileopen)]
+    filtered_fileopens = [fileopen for fileopen in fileopens if not re.search(r"encoding=.(ascii|utf8|utf-8).|open\([^,]*, (\*\*kwargs|['\"][^'\"]*b[^'\"]*['\"])", fileopen)]
 
     return filtered_fileopens