diff --git a/src/compiler/GF/Infra/UseIO.hs b/src/compiler/GF/Infra/UseIO.hs
index 72875f70d..1240351f6 100644
--- a/src/compiler/GF/Infra/UseIO.hs
+++ b/src/compiler/GF/Infra/UseIO.hs
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ putPointE v opts msg act = do
 
   return a
 
+-- * File IO
+
 writeUTF8File :: FilePath -> String -> IO ()
 writeUTF8File fpath content = do
   h <- openFile fpath WriteMode
@@ -193,6 +195,9 @@ writeUTF8File fpath content = do
   hPutStr h content
   hClose h
 
+readBinaryFile path = hGetContents =<< openBinaryFile path ReadMode
+writeBinaryFile path s = withBinaryFile path WriteMode (flip hPutStr s)
+
 -- * Functions to limit acesss to arbitrary IO and system commands
 restricted io =
     either (const io) (const $ fail message) =<< try (getEnv "GF_RESTRICTED")