diff --git a/dotdrop/templategen.py b/dotdrop/templategen.py
index af422bc..06138d3 100644
--- a/dotdrop/templategen.py
+++ b/dotdrop/templategen.py
@@ -114,8 +114,12 @@ class Templategen:
         """test if file pointed by path is a template"""
         if not os.path.isfile(path):
             return False
-        with open(path, 'r') as f:
-            data = f.read()
+        try:
+            with open(path, 'r') as f:
+                data = f.read()
+        except UnicodeDecodeError:
+            # is binary so surely no template
+            return False
         markers = [BLOCK_START, VAR_START, COMMENT_START]
         for marker in markers:
             if marker in data: