diff --git a/pystache/common.py b/pystache/common.py
index fb266dd..62bd2c4 100644
--- a/pystache/common.py
+++ b/pystache/common.py
@@ -45,10 +45,15 @@ def read(path):
     # read() method returns byte strings (strings of type `str` in Python 2),
     # whereas in Python 3, the file object returns unicode strings (strings
     # of type `str` in Python 3).
-    f = open(path, 'rb')
+    if version_info < (3, ):
+        f = open(path, 'rbU')
+    else:
+        f = open(path, 'r')
     # We avoid use of the with keyword for Python 2.4 support.
     try:
-        return f.read()
+        if version_info < (3, ):
+            return  f.read()
+        return f.read().encode('utf_8')
     finally:
         f.close()