diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/tests/test_delete_course.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/tests/test_delete_course.py
index 8d0388aa14..d5b915a7c8 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/tests/test_delete_course.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/management/commands/tests/test_delete_course.py
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ class DeleteCourseTests(ModuleStoreTestCase):
 
         store = contentstore()
         asset_key = course_run.id.make_asset_key('asset', 'test.txt')
-        content = StaticContent(asset_key, 'test.txt', 'plain/text', 'test data')
+        content = StaticContent(asset_key, 'test.txt', 'plain/text', b'test data')
         store.save(content)
         __, asset_count = store.get_all_content_for_course(course_run.id)
         assert asset_count == 1
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class DeleteCourseTests(ModuleStoreTestCase):
         store = contentstore()
 
         asset_key = course_run.id.make_asset_key('asset', 'test.txt')
-        content = StaticContent(asset_key, 'test.txt', 'plain/text', 'test data')
+        content = StaticContent(asset_key, 'test.txt', 'plain/text', b'test data')
         store.save(content)
         __, asset_count = store.get_all_content_for_course(course_run.id)
         assert asset_count == 1
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_video_mongo.py b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_video_mongo.py
index fbc83780af..b6639beaa7 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_video_mongo.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_video_mongo.py
@@ -1310,7 +1310,7 @@ class TestEditorSavedMethod(BaseTestVideoXBlock):
         self.MODULESTORE = MODULESTORES[default_store]  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
         self.initialize_block(metadata=self.metadata)
         item = self.store.get_item(self.item_descriptor.location)
-        with open(self.file_path, "r") as myfile:
+        with open(self.file_path, "rb") as myfile:
             save_to_store(myfile.read(), self.file_name, 'text/sjson', item.location)
         item.sub = "3_yD_cEKoCk"
         # subs_video.srt.sjson does not exist before calling editor_saved function
@@ -1330,7 +1330,7 @@ class TestEditorSavedMethod(BaseTestVideoXBlock):
         self.MODULESTORE = MODULESTORES[default_store]
         self.initialize_block(metadata=self.metadata)
         item = self.store.get_item(self.item_descriptor.location)
-        with open(self.file_path, "r") as myfile:
+        with open(self.file_path, "rb") as myfile:
             save_to_store(myfile.read(), self.file_name, 'text/sjson', item.location)
             save_to_store(myfile.read(), 'subs_video.srt.sjson', 'text/sjson', item.location)
         item.sub = "3_yD_cEKoCk"