diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/modes/add_util.py b/deluge/ui/console/modes/add_util.py
index 5782c323d..a07484313 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/modes/add_util.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/modes/add_util.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def add_torrent(t_file, options, success_cb, fail_cb, ress):
                 continue
 
             filename = os.path.split(f)[-1]
-            with open(f) as _file:
+            with open(f, 'rb') as _file:
                 filedump = base64.encodestring(_file.read())
 
             client.core.add_torrent_file(
diff --git a/deluge/ui/console/modes/addtorrents.py b/deluge/ui/console/modes/addtorrents.py
index 617bff3d3..3a7fa0640 100644
--- a/deluge/ui/console/modes/addtorrents.py
+++ b/deluge/ui/console/modes/addtorrents.py
@@ -386,7 +386,7 @@ class AddTorrents(BaseMode):
                 filename = m
                 directory = os.path.join(*self.path_stack[:self.path_stack_pos])
                 path = os.path.join(directory, filename)
-                with open(path) as _file:
+                with open(path, 'rb') as _file:
                     filedump = base64.encodestring(_file.read())
                 t_options = {}
                 if result['location']['value']: