diff --git a/run_server.py b/run_server.py
index 02e3fa3d8..365f2636d 100755
--- a/run_server.py
+++ b/run_server.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ class EventHandler(ProcessEvent):
         self.client = client
 
     def process_IN_MODIFY(self, event):
-        self.client.write_message(f.read())
+        self.client.write_message(f.read().decode('utf-8', 'replace'))
 
 
 def file_monitor(path='.', client=None):