diff --git a/git_refs.py b/git_refs.py
index 58c838a..7feaffb 100644
--- a/git_refs.py
+++ b/git_refs.py
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
 
   def _ReadLoose1(self, path, name):
     try:
-      fd = open(path, 'rb')
+      fd = open(path)
     except IOError:
       return