diff --git a/deluge/ui/gtkui/addtorrentdialog.py b/deluge/ui/gtkui/addtorrentdialog.py
index fdaa896b9..76cd7c695 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/gtkui/addtorrentdialog.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/gtkui/addtorrentdialog.py
@@ -683,7 +683,7 @@ class AddTorrentDialog(component.Component):
             for i, f in enumerate(torrent_filenames):
                 client.core.add_torrent_file(
                     os.path.split(f)[-1],
-                    base64.encodestring(open(f).read()),
+                    base64.encodestring(open(f, "rb").read()),
                     torrent_options[i])
         if torrent_magnets:
             client.core.add_torrent_magnets(torrent_magnets, torrent_magnet_options)
diff --git a/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py b/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py
index 6475e8773..73318894d 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/web/json_api.py
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ class WebApi(JSONComponent):
         """
         for torrent in torrents:
             filename = os.path.basename(torrent["path"])
-            fdump = base64.encodestring(open(torrent["path"], "r").read())
+            fdump = base64.encodestring(open(torrent["path"], "rb").read())
             log.info("Adding torrent from file `%s` with options `%r`",
                 filename, torrent["options"])
             client.core.add_torrent_file(filename, fdump, torrent["options"])