diff --git a/.cirrus.yml b/.cirrus.yml
index cf5b523ebf..0eac9ba226 100644
--- a/.cirrus.yml
+++ b/.cirrus.yml
@@ -67,7 +67,19 @@ task:
       env:
         SHARD: build_tests
       test_script:
+        # Unsetting CIRRUS_CHANGE_MESSAGE and CIRRUS_COMMIT_MESSAGE as they
+        # might include non-ASCII characters which makes Gradle crash.
+        # See: https://github.com/flutter/flutter/issues/24935
+        # This is a temporary workaround until we figure how to properly configure
+        # a UTF8 locale on Cirrus (or until the Gradle bug is fixed).
+        # TODO(amirh): Set the locale to UTF8.
+        - echo "$CIRRUS_CHANGE_MESSAGE" > /tmp/cirrus_change_message.txt
+        - echo "$CIRRUS_COMMIT_MESSAGE" > /tmp/cirrus_commit_message.txt
+        - export CIRRUS_CHANGE_MESSAGE=""
+        - export CIRRUS_COMMIT_MESSAGE=""
         - dart ./dev/bots/test.dart
+        - export CIRRUS_CHANGE_MESSAGE=`cat /tmp/cirrus_change_message.txt`
+        - export CIRRUS_COMMIT_MESSAGE=`cat /tmp/cirrus_commit_message.txt`
       container:
         cpu: 4
         memory: 12G