diff --git a/specfile/specfile.py b/specfile/specfile.py
index f9491e8..b7b9e03 100644
--- a/specfile/specfile.py
+++ b/specfile/specfile.py
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ def __init__(
         if file is not None:
             self._file = file
         elif path is not None:
-            self._file = Path(path).open("r+", **self.ENCODING_ARGS)
+            self._file = Path(path).open("r", **self.ENCODING_ARGS)
         elif content is not None:
             self._file = StringIO(content)
         else:
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ def _reopen_named_file(self) -> None:
         if not self.path:
             return
         self._file.close()
-        self._file = self.path.open("r+", **self.ENCODING_ARGS)
+        self._file = self.path.open("r", **self.ENCODING_ARGS)
 
     @property
     def path(self) -> Optional[Path]:
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ def path(self, value: Union[Path, str]) -> None:
         path = Path(value)
         if path == self.path:
             return
-        self._file = path.open("r+", **self.ENCODING_ARGS)
+        self._file = path.open("r", **self.ENCODING_ARGS)
 
     @property
     def sourcedir(self) -> Path: