diff --git a/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py b/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py
index 5eb4cd787..bb411a299 100644
--- a/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py
+++ b/src/backend/langflow/services/settings/utils.py
@@ -43,5 +43,5 @@ def write_secret_to_file(path: Path, value: str) -> None:
 
 
 def read_secret_from_file(path: Path) -> str:
-    with path.open("rb") as f:
+    with path.open("r") as f:
         return f.read()