diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/meta.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/meta.py
index 7e1fb05c62..4336fa7435 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/meta.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/metadata/meta.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def _metadata_from_formats(formats, force_read_metadata=False, pattern=None):
             return mi2
 
     for path, ext in zip(formats, extensions):
-        with open(path, 'rb') as stream:
+        with lopen(path, 'rb') as stream:
             try:
                 newmi = get_metadata(stream, stream_type=ext,
                                      use_libprs_metadata=True,
@@ -218,20 +218,20 @@ def opf_metadata(opfpath):
 
 def forked_read_metadata(path, tdir):
     from calibre.ebooks.metadata.opf2 import metadata_to_opf
-    with open(path, 'rb') as f:
+    with lopen(path, 'rb') as f:
         fmt = os.path.splitext(path)[1][1:].lower()
         f.seek(0, 2)
         sz = f.tell()
-        with open(os.path.join(tdir, 'size.txt'), 'wb') as s:
+        with lopen(os.path.join(tdir, 'size.txt'), 'wb') as s:
             s.write(str(sz).encode('ascii'))
         f.seek(0)
         mi = get_metadata(f, fmt)
     if mi.cover_data and mi.cover_data[1]:
-        with open(os.path.join(tdir, 'cover.jpg'), 'wb') as f:
+        with lopen(os.path.join(tdir, 'cover.jpg'), 'wb') as f:
             f.write(mi.cover_data[1])
         mi.cover_data = (None, None)
         mi.cover = 'cover.jpg'
     opf = metadata_to_opf(mi, default_lang='und')
-    with open(os.path.join(tdir, 'metadata.opf'), 'wb') as f:
+    with lopen(os.path.join(tdir, 'metadata.opf'), 'wb') as f:
         f.write(opf)