diff --git a/ietf/meeting/helpers.py b/ietf/meeting/helpers.py
index 50cc4f041..54c467c9f 100644
--- a/ietf/meeting/helpers.py
+++ b/ietf/meeting/helpers.py
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ def read_session_file(type, num, doc):
     # FIXME: uploaded_filename should be replaced with a function call that computes names that are fixed
     path = os.path.join(settings.AGENDA_PATH, "%s/%s/%s" % (num, type, doc.uploaded_filename))
     if os.path.exists(path):
-        with io.open(path) as f:
+        with io.open(path, 'rb') as f:
             return f.read(), path
     else:
         return None, path
diff --git a/ietf/meeting/views.py b/ietf/meeting/views.py
index 083c961d0..e24b2d48c 100644
--- a/ietf/meeting/views.py
+++ b/ietf/meeting/views.py
@@ -656,7 +656,7 @@ def session_draft_list(num, acronym):
     for agenda in agendas:
         content, _ = read_agenda_file(num, agenda)
         if content:
-            drafts.update(re.findall('(draft-[-a-z0-9]*)', content))
+            drafts.update(re.findall(b'(draft-[-a-z0-9]*)', content))
 
     result = []
     for draft in drafts: