diff --git a/tools/binman/ftest.py b/tools/binman/ftest.py
index d0a8b751a2..cc57ef3e04 100644
--- a/tools/binman/ftest.py
+++ b/tools/binman/ftest.py
@@ -1777,7 +1777,7 @@ class TestFunctional(unittest.TestCase):
         # We should not get an inmage, but there should be a map file
         self.assertFalse(os.path.exists(tools.GetOutputFilename('image.bin')))
         self.assertTrue(os.path.exists(map_fname))
-        map_data = tools.ReadFile(map_fname)
+        map_data = tools.ReadFile(map_fname, binary=False)
         self.assertEqual('''ImagePos    Offset      Size  Name
 <none>    00000000  00000007  main-section
 <none>     00000000  00000004  u-boot