diff --git a/Lib/SimpleHTTPServer.py b/Lib/SimpleHTTPServer.py
index 71268558f70..717a472b59a 100644
--- a/Lib/SimpleHTTPServer.py
+++ b/Lib/SimpleHTTPServer.py
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class SimpleHTTPRequestHandler(BaseHTTPServer.BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
             self.send_error(403, "Directory listing not supported")
             return None
         try:
-            f = open(path)
+            f = open(path, 'rb')
         except IOError:
             self.send_error(404, "File not found")
             return None