diff --git a/salt/utils/__init__.py b/salt/utils/__init__.py
index <HASH>..<HASH> 100644
--- a/salt/utils/__init__.py
+++ b/salt/utils/__init__.py
@@ -1029,17 +1029,18 @@ def fopen(*args, **kwargs):
         return flopen(*args, **kwargs)
 
     # ensure 'binary' mode is always used on windows
-    if is_windows():
-        if len(args) > 1:
-            args = list(args)
-            if 'b' not in args[1]:
-                args[1] += 'b'
-        elif kwargs.get('mode', None):
-            if 'b' not in kwargs['mode']:
-                kwargs['mode'] += 'b'
-        else:
-            # the default is to read
-            kwargs['mode'] = 'rb'
+    if kwargs.pop('binary', True):
+        if is_windows():
+            if len(args) > 1:
+                args = list(args)
+                if 'b' not in args[1]:
+                    args[1] += 'b'
+            elif kwargs.get('mode', None):
+                if 'b' not in kwargs['mode']:
+                    kwargs['mode'] += 'b'
+            else:
+                # the default is to read
+                kwargs['mode'] = 'rb'
 
     fhandle = open(*args, **kwargs)
     if is_fcntl_available():
allow override of binary file mode on windows

Related to #<I>.