diff --git a/hw/pc.c b/hw/pc.c
index f59ea2397f..305ea1f5b6 100644
--- a/hw/pc.c
+++ b/hw/pc.c
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ int load_kernel(const char *filename, uint8_t *addr,
     int fd, size;
     int setup_sects;
 
-    fd = open(filename, O_RDONLY);
+    fd = open(filename, O_RDONLY | O_BINARY);
     if (fd < 0)
         return -1;