diff --git a/Lib/venv/__init__.py b/Lib/venv/__init__.py
index 8d2deb7..3c0d7af 100644
--- a/Lib/venv/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/venv/__init__.py
@@ -305,11 +305,17 @@
                     mode = 'wb'
                 else:
                     mode = 'w'
-                    data = data.decode('utf-8')
-                    data = self.replace_variables(data, context)
-                with open(dstfile, mode) as f:
-                    f.write(data)
-                shutil.copymode(srcfile, dstfile)
+                    try:
+                        data = data.decode('utf-8')
+                        data = self.replace_variables(data, context)
+                    except UnicodeDecodeError as e:
+                        data = None
+                        logger.warning('unable to copy script %r, '
+                                       'may be binary: %s', srcfile, e)
+                if data is not None:
+                    with open(dstfile, mode) as f:
+                        f.write(data)
+                    shutil.copymode(srcfile, dstfile)
 
 
 def create(env_dir, system_site_packages=False, clear=False, symlinks=False):