diff --git a/pubs/configs.py b/pubs/configs.py
index 50e13de..7e09b88 100644
--- a/pubs/configs.py
+++ b/pubs/configs.py
@@ -66,12 +66,12 @@ class Config(object):
         if not check_file(path, fail=False):
             raise IOError(("The configuration file {} does not exist."
                            " Did you run 'pubs init' ?").format(path))
-        with _open(path, 'r') as f:
+        with _open(path, 'rb+') as f:
             _read_config(self._cfg, f)
         return self
 
     def save(self, path=DFT_CONFIG_PATH):
-        with _open(path, 'w') as f:
+        with _open(path, 'wb+') as f:
             self._cfg.write(f)
 
     def __setattr__(self, name, value):
diff --git a/pubs/content.py b/pubs/content.py
index b646b7c..d442ea2 100644
--- a/pubs/content.py
+++ b/pubs/content.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from .p3 import urlparse, HTTPConnection, urlopen
 """
 
 
-ENCODING = 'utf8'
+ENCODING = 'UTF-8'
 
 
 # files i/o
@@ -45,7 +45,10 @@ def system_path(path):
 
 
 def _open(path, mode):
-        return io.open(system_path(path), mode, encoding=ENCODING)
+        if mode.find('b') == -1:
+            return io.open(system_path(path), mode, encoding=ENCODING)
+        else:
+            return io.open(system_path(path), mode)#, encoding=ENCODING)
 
 
 def check_file(path, fail=True):