diff --git a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_show_metadata.py b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_show_metadata.py
index ca76735070..08239cd9b8 100644
--- a/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_show_metadata.py
+++ b/src/calibre/db/cli/cmd_show_metadata.py
@@ -49,8 +49,9 @@ def main(opts, args, dbctx):
     if mi is None:
         raise SystemExit('Id #%d is not present in database.' % id)
     if opts.as_opf:
+        stdout = getattr(sys.stdout, 'buffer', sys.stdout)
         mi = OPFCreator(getcwd(), mi)
-        mi.render(sys.stdout)
+        mi.render(stdout)
     else:
         prints(unicode_type(mi))