diff --git a/ipaserver/install/cainstance.py b/ipaserver/install/cainstance.py
index 27221945d..4c9f9670e 100644
--- a/ipaserver/install/cainstance.py
+++ b/ipaserver/install/cainstance.py
@@ -599,7 +599,7 @@ class CAInstance(DogtagInstance):
         config.set("Tomcat", "pki_ajp_host", "::1")
 
         # Generate configuration file
-        with open(cfg_file, "wb") as f:
+        with open(cfg_file, "w") as f:
             config.write(f)
 
         self.backup_state('installed', True)
diff --git a/ipaserver/install/krainstance.py b/ipaserver/install/krainstance.py
index 4f897cbf2..95672ee5c 100644
--- a/ipaserver/install/krainstance.py
+++ b/ipaserver/install/krainstance.py
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ class KRAInstance(DogtagInstance):
                 admin_path.write(cert)
 
         # Generate configuration file
-        with open(cfg_file, "wb") as f:
+        with open(cfg_file, "w") as f:
             config.write(f)
 
         try: