diff --git a/textract/parsers/txt_parser.py b/textract/parsers/txt_parser.py
index 94cbe251..2b76fd4a 100644
--- a/textract/parsers/txt_parser.py
+++ b/textract/parsers/txt_parser.py
@@ -5,5 +5,5 @@ class Parser(BaseParser):
     """Parse ``.txt`` files"""
 
     def extract(self, filename, **kwargs):
-        with open(filename) as stream:
+        with open(filename, "rb") as stream:
             return stream.read()