diff --git a/lib/connection.js b/lib/connection.js
index b4198bff..2b5c0139 100644
--- a/lib/connection.js
+++ b/lib/connection.js
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ p.bind = function(config) {
   config = config || {};
   config.portal = config.portal || '';
   config.statement = config.statement || '';
+  config.binary = config.binary || false;
   var values = config.values || [];
   var len = values.length;
   var buffer = this.writer
@@ -139,8 +140,14 @@ p.bind = function(config) {
       buffer.addString(val);
     }
   }
-  buffer.addInt16(1); // format codes to use binary
-  buffer.addInt16(1);
+
+  if (config.binary) {
+    buffer.addInt16(1); // format codes to use binary
+    buffer.addInt16(1);
+  }
+  else {
+    buffer.addInt16(0); // format codes to use text
+  }
   //0x42 = 'B'
 
   this._send(0x42, buffer);
diff --git a/lib/query.js b/lib/query.js
index ecd18858..5747ad32 100644
--- a/lib/query.js
+++ b/lib/query.js
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ var Query = function(config) {
   this.rows = config.rows;
   this.types = config.types;
   this.name = config.name;
+  this.binary = config.binary;
   //for code clarity purposes we'll declare this here though it's not
   //set or used until a rowDescription message comes in
   this.rowDescription = null;
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ sys.inherits(Query, EventEmitter);
 var p = Query.prototype;
 
 p.requiresPreparation = function() {
-  return (this.values || 0).length > 0 || this.name || this.rows;
+  return (this.values || 0).length > 0 || this.name || this.rows || this.binary;
 };
 
 
@@ -182,7 +183,8 @@ p.prepare = function(connection) {
   connection.bind({
     portal: self.name,
     statement: self.name,
-    values: self.values
+    values: self.values,
+    binary: self.binary
   });
 
   connection.describe({