diff --git a/birthdayreminder/src/BirthdayReminder.py b/birthdayreminder/src/BirthdayReminder.py
index eb1044fcd1..9835177ca1 100644
--- a/birthdayreminder/src/BirthdayReminder.py
+++ b/birthdayreminder/src/BirthdayReminder.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ def load(self):
 		tmpList = []
 		if isfile(fileName):
 			try:
-				f = open(fileName, "r")
+				f = open(fileName, "rb")
 				tmpList = pickle_load(f)
 				f.close()
 			except IOError as xxx_todo_changeme1: