@@ -1109,7 +1109,10 @@ mysql_init(MYSQL *mysql)
     goto error;
   mysql->options.report_data_truncation= 1;
   mysql->options.connect_timeout=CONNECT_TIMEOUT;
-  mysql->charset= mysql_find_charset_name(MARIADB_DEFAULT_CHARSET);
+  // in proxysql we set mysql->charset to NULL during mysql_init()
+  // proxysql will explicitly set it a value if needed
+  mysql->charset = NULL;
+  //mysql->charset= mysql_find_charset_name(MARIADB_DEFAULT_CHARSET);
   mysql->methods= &MARIADB_DEFAULT_METHODS;
   strcpy(mysql->net.sqlstate, "00000");
   mysql->net.last_error[0]= mysql->net.last_errno= mysql->net.extension->extended_errno= 0;
@@ -1625,11 +1628,15 @@ MYSQL *mthd_my_real_connect(MYSQL *mysql
     }
   }
 
-  /* Set character set */
-  if (mysql->options.charset_name)
-    mysql->charset= mysql_find_charset_name(mysql->options.charset_name);
-  else
-    mysql->charset=mysql_find_charset_name(MARIADB_DEFAULT_CHARSET);
+  if (!mysql->charset) { // in proxysql we do not set charset during mysql_init
+    /* Set character set */
+    if (mysql->options.charset_name)
+      mysql->charset= mysql_find_charset_name(mysql->options.charset_name);
+    else
+      mysql->charset=mysql_find_charset_name(MARIADB_DEFAULT_CHARSET);
+  } else {
+    // proxysql has explicitly set charset
+  }
 
   if (!mysql->charset)
   {
@@ -1892,10 +1899,16 @@ my_bool	STDCALL mysql_change_user(MYSQL
        *s_db= mysql->db;
   int rc;
 
-  if (mysql->options.charset_name)
-    mysql->charset= mysql_find_charset_name(mysql->options.charset_name);
-  else
-    mysql->charset=mysql_find_charset_name(MARIADB_DEFAULT_CHARSET);
+  // in proxysql we set charset directly,
+  // therefore this code should never be called in proxysql.
+  // we keep the code because compatibility (for example, an app using mysql_change_user)
+  // we also change mysql_optionsv() for MYSQL_SET_CHARSET_NAME 
+  if (!mysql->charset) {
+    if (mysql->options.charset_name)
+      mysql->charset= mysql_find_charset_name(mysql->options.charset_name);
+    else
+      mysql->charset=mysql_find_charset_name(MARIADB_DEFAULT_CHARSET);
+  }
 
   mysql->user= strdup(user ? user : "");
   mysql->passwd= strdup(passwd ? passwd : "");
@@ -2963,6 +2976,12 @@ mysql_optionsv(MYSQL *mysql,enum mysql_o
     OPT_SET_VALUE_STR(&mysql->options, charset_dir, arg1);
     break;
   case MYSQL_SET_CHARSET_NAME:
+    {
+      // this is for applications other than proxysql.
+      // This because proxysql doesn't use mysql_options() with MYSQL_SET_CHARSET_NAME ,
+      // but instead set mysql->charset directly
+      mysql->charset = NULL;
+    }
     OPT_SET_VALUE_STR(&mysql->options, charset_name, arg1);
     break;
   case MYSQL_OPT_RECONNECT: