diff --git a/util/style/verifiers.py b/util/style/verifiers.py
index 00cf0705ca..85f31cee16 100644
--- a/util/style/verifiers.py
+++ b/util/style/verifiers.py
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ class SortedIncludes(Verifier):
     def check(self, filename, regions=all_regions, fobj=None, silent=False):
         close = False
         if fobj is None:
-            fobj = self.open(filename, 'r')
+            fobj = self.open(filename, 'rb')
             close = True
         norm_fname = self.normalize_filename(filename)