diff --git a/buffer.py b/buffer.py
index 355a2bc..aa28cdb 100644
--- a/buffer.py
+++ b/buffer.py
@@ -535,6 +535,7 @@ class FileBuffer(Buffer):
         Buffer.__init__(self)
         self.path = os.path.realpath(path)
         self.checksum = None
+        self.bytemark = ''
         if name is None:
             self._name = os.path.basename(self.path)
         else:
@@ -588,10 +589,16 @@ class FileBuffer(Buffer):
             data = f.read()
             if '\t' in data:
                 self.writetabs = True
+            
             f.close()
             self.store_checksum(data)
         else:
             data = ''
+
+        if data.startswith('\xEF\xBB\xBF'):
+            self.bytemark = data[:2]
+            data          = data[2:]
+
         self.nl = self._detect_nl_type(data)
         data = self.read_filter(data)
         data = data.replace("\t", "    ")
@@ -633,7 +640,7 @@ class FileBuffer(Buffer):
         data = self.write_filter(data)
 
         f2 = self._open_file_w(temp_path)
-        f2.write(data)
+        f2.write(self.bytemark + data)
         f2.close()
 
         if self.path_exists():