diff --git a/test/shell.d/locate-test.sh b/test/shell.d/locate-test.sh
index 58eacbbd..7bf1a359 100644
--- a/test/shell.d/locate-test.sh
+++ b/test/shell.d/locate-test.sh
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ check(not (root / "install/config/locate.sh").exists() and not (root / "migratio
 for directory in ("bin", "install", "migrations"):
   for path in (root / directory).rglob("*"):
     if path.is_file():
-      content = path.read_text()
-      if "OMARCHY_UPDATEDB_CONF_PATH" in content or "config/locate.sh" in content:
+      content = path.read_bytes()
+      if b"OMARCHY_UPDATEDB_CONF_PATH" in content or b"config/locate.sh" in content:
         raise SystemExit("not ok - retired locate configuration path remains in " + str(path))
 check(True, "runtime and installation no longer reference the configuration rewrite")