diff --git a/lib/js/src/thrift.js b/lib/js/src/thrift.js
index 9bd1198..664171e 100644
--- a/lib/js/src/thrift.js
+++ b/lib/js/src/thrift.js
@@ -1006,8 +1006,19 @@
     },
 
     /** Serializes a string */
-    writeBinary: function(str) {
-        this.writeString(str);
+    writeBinary: function(binary) {
+        var str = '';
+        if (typeof binary == 'string') {
+            str = binary;
+        } else if (binary instanceof Uint8Array) {
+            var arr = binary;
+            for (var i = 0; i < arr.length; ++i) {
+                str += String.fromCharCode(arr[i]);
+            }
+        } else {
+            throw new TypeError('writeBinary only accepts String or Uint8Array.');
+        }
+        this.tstack.push('"' + btoa(str) + '"');
     },
 
     /**
@@ -1309,7 +1320,9 @@
     /** Returns the an object with a value property set to the 
         next value found in the protocol buffer */
     readBinary: function() {
-        return this.readString();
+        var r = this.readI32();
+        r.value = atob(r.value);
+        return r;
     },
 
     /**