diff --git a/generateDS.py b/generateDS.py
index 364a5a3cddf018704294a4e2a99c1675b9f21801..53a2df02ab8441364c089c7f79464a8aabb3a7d2 100755
--- a/generateDS.py
+++ b/generateDS.py
@@ -6999,11 +6999,17 @@ def makeFile(outFileName):
             reply = input(
                 'File %s exists.  Overwrite? (y/n): ' % outFileName)
             if reply == 'y':
-                outFile = open(outFileName, 'w', encoding="utf-8")
+                if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
+                    outFile = open(outFileName, 'w')
+                else:
+                    outFile = open(outFileName, 'w', encoding="utf-8")
             else:
                 sys.exit('Exiting.  No output file.')
     else:
-        outFile = open(outFileName, 'w', encoding="utf-8")
+        if sys.version_info[0] == 2:
+            outFile = open(outFileName, 'w')
+        else:
+            outFile = open(outFileName, 'w', encoding="utf-8")
     return outFile