diff --git a/keylime/tenant.py b/keylime/tenant.py
index 39c926157..40c3e257d 100755
--- a/keylime/tenant.py
+++ b/keylime/tenant.py
@@ -357,7 +357,7 @@ def init_add(self, args):
                 else:
                     raise UserError("Invalid file payload provided")
             else:
-                with open(args["file"], 'rb') as f:
+                with open(args["file"], encoding="utf-8") as f:
                     contents = f.read()
             ret = user_data_encrypt.encrypt(contents)
             self.K = ret['k']