diff --git a/libcloud/__init__.py b/libcloud/__init__.py
index 725c3dee8b..9ebb78f103 100644
--- a/libcloud/__init__.py
+++ b/libcloud/__init__.py
@@ -55,12 +55,22 @@ def _init_once():
     This checks for the LIBCLOUD_DEBUG environment variable, which if it exists
     is where we will log debug information about the provider transports.
     """
+    from libcloud.utils.py3 import PY3
+
     path = os.getenv('LIBCLOUD_DEBUG')
     if path:
-        fo = codecs.open(path, 'a', encoding='utf8')
+        mode = 'a'
+
+        # Special case for /dev/stderr and /dev/stdout on Python 3.
+        # Opening those files in append mode will throw "illegal seek"
+        # exception there.
+        if path in ['/dev/stderr', '/dev/stdout'] and PY3:
+            mode = 'w'
+
+        fo = codecs.open(path, mode, encoding='utf8')
         enable_debug(fo)
 
-        if have_paramiko:
-            paramiko.common.logging.basicConfig(level=paramiko.common.DEBUG)
+    if have_paramiko:
+        paramiko.common.logging.basicConfig(level=paramiko.common.DEBUG)
 
 _init_once()
diff --git a/libcloud/common/base.py b/libcloud/common/base.py
index ac0fdd7d47..d4cbbae19f 100644
--- a/libcloud/common/base.py
+++ b/libcloud/common/base.py
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ def _log_response(self, r):
         ht += "\r\n"
 
         # this is evil. laugh with me. ha arharhrhahahaha
-        class fakesock:
+        class fakesock(object):
             def __init__(self, s):
                 self.s = s
 
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ def makefile(self, *args, **kwargs):
                 else:
                     cls = StringIO
 
-                return cls(self.s)
+                return cls(b(self.s))
         rr = r
         headers = lowercase_keys(dict(r.getheaders()))