diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_config_json.c b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_config_json.c
index c6bf59929..bfa91584d 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_config_json.c
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_config_json.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ u_config_json_open_or_create_file(struct u_config_json *json, const char *filena
 		return;
 	}
 
-	FILE *file = u_file_open_file_in_config_dir(filename, "r");
+	FILE *file = u_file_open_file_in_config_dir(filename, "rb");
 	if (file == NULL) {
 		return;
 	}
diff --git a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_file.c b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_file.c
index e892fbccc..f1d5697e9 100644
--- a/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_file.c
+++ b/src/xrt/auxiliary/util/u_file.c
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ u_file_read_content(FILE *file)
 char *
 u_file_read_content_from_path(const char *path)
 {
-	FILE *file = fopen(path, "r");
+	FILE *file = fopen(path, "rb");
 	if (file == NULL) {
 		return NULL;
 	}