diff --git a/ironic/common/swift.py b/ironic/common/swift.py
index 2a0a061dc5..d485ff45cc 100644
--- a/ironic/common/swift.py
+++ b/ironic/common/swift.py
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ class SwiftAPI(object):
             operation = _("put container")
             raise exception.SwiftOperationError(operation=operation, error=e)
 
-        with open(filename, "r") as fileobj:
+        with open(filename, "rb") as fileobj:
 
             try:
                 obj_uuid = self.connection.put_object(container,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/fix-swift-binary-upload-bf9471fca29290e1.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/fix-swift-binary-upload-bf9471fca29290e1.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..14d4926db1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/fix-swift-binary-upload-bf9471fca29290e1.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+fixes:
+  - |
+    Fixes binary files upload to Swift. Prior to this fix, binary file
+    upload to Swift might fail at unicode characters interpretation.