diff --git a/lib/net.js b/lib/net.js
index b5951acb322..81073be7ca3 100644
--- a/lib/net.js
+++ b/lib/net.js
@@ -329,6 +329,9 @@ function initStream (self) {
           case 'ascii':
             string = recvBuffer.asciiSlice(start, end);
             break;
+          case 'binary':
+            string = recvBuffer.binarySlice(start, end);
+            break;
           default:
             throw new Error('Unsupported encoding ' + self._encoding + '. Use Buffer'); 
         }
@@ -513,9 +516,12 @@ Stream.prototype.write = function (data, encoding) {
       var charsWritten;
       if (encoding == 'utf8') {
         recvBuffer.utf8Write(data, recvBuffer.used);
-      } else {
+      } else if (encoding == 'ascii') {
         // ascii
         recvBuffer.asciiWrite(data, recvBuffer.used);
+      } else {
+        // binary
+        recvBuffer.binaryWrite(data, recvBuffer.used);
       }
 
       buffer = recvBuffer;