diff --git a/openformats/formats/docx.py b/openformats/formats/docx.py
index 9f20c465..22e8d2b2 100644
--- a/openformats/formats/docx.py
+++ b/openformats/formats/docx.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def __init__(self, content):
 
     def get_document(self):
         if self.__document is None:
-            with io.open(self.__document_path, 'r') as f:
+            with io.open(self.__document_path, 'rb') as f:
                 self.__document = f.read()
 
         return self.__document