diff --git a/project.py b/project.py
index 460bf31..95403cc 100644
--- a/project.py
+++ b/project.py
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 def _lwrite(path, content):
   lock = '%s.lock' % path
 
-  fd = open(lock, 'wb')
+  fd = open(lock, 'w')
   try:
     fd.write(content)
   finally: