diff --git a/riak/bucket.py b/riak/bucket.py
index 7dde7351..b165dc35 100644
--- a/riak/bucket.py
+++ b/riak/bucket.py
@@ -421,18 +421,9 @@ def new_from_file(self, key, filename):
         with open(filename, 'rb') as f:
             binary_data = f.read()
         mimetype, encoding = mimetypes.guess_type(filename)
-        if encoding:
-            binary_data = bytearray(binary_data, encoding)
-        else:
-            binary_data = bytearray(binary_data)
         if not mimetype:
             mimetype = 'application/octet-stream'
-        if PY2:
-            return self.new(key, encoded_data=binary_data,
-                            content_type=mimetype)
-        else:
-            return self.new(key, encoded_data=bytes(binary_data),
-                            content_type=mimetype)
+        return self.new(key, encoded_data=binary_data, content_type=mimetype)
 
     def search_enabled(self):
         """