--- django/db/models/fields/__init__.py.old 2017-06-14 08:43:21.665812000 -0700 +++ django/db/models/fields/__init__.py 2017-12-17 14:34:03.023976702 -0800 @@ -2323,7 +2323,7 @@ if self.has_default() and not callable(self.default): return self.default default = super(BinaryField, self).get_default() - if default == '': + if isinstance(default, six.text_type) and default == '': return b'' return default