diff --git a/deluge/core/core.py b/deluge/core/core.py
index def2aa70b..0f1e310c1 100644
--- a/deluge/core/core.py
+++ b/deluge/core/core.py
@@ -667,7 +667,8 @@ class Core(component.Component):
             options = {}
             options["download_location"] = os.path.split(path)[0]
             with open(target, "rb") as _file:
-                self.add_torrent_file(os.path.split(target)[1], _file.read(), options)
+                filedump = base64.encodestring(_file.read())
+                self.add_torrent_file(os.path.split(target)[1], filedump, options)
 
     @export
     def upload_plugin(self, filename, filedump):