diff --git a/gluon/admin.py b/gluon/admin.py
index 8a2f9277..8c70c348 100644
--- a/gluon/admin.py
+++ b/gluon/admin.py
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ def app_pack(app, request, raise_ex=False, filenames=None):
         w2p_pack(filename, apath(app, request), filenames=filenames)
         return filename
     except Exception as e:
-        import traceback
-        print(traceback.format_exc())
         if raise_ex:
             raise
         return False
diff --git a/gluon/compileapp.py b/gluon/compileapp.py
index 5bedc04e..0ee9c18c 100644
--- a/gluon/compileapp.py
+++ b/gluon/compileapp.py
@@ -44,18 +44,15 @@ from functools import reduce
 logger = logging.getLogger("web2py")
 from gluon import rewrite
 from gluon.custom_import import custom_import_install
-
-try:
-    import py_compile
-except:
-    logger.warning('unable to import py_compile')
+import py_compile
 
 is_pypy = settings.global_settings.is_pypy
 is_gae = settings.global_settings.web2py_runtime_gae
 is_jython = settings.global_settings.is_jython
-
 pjoin = os.path.join
 
+marshal_header_size = 8 if PY2 else 12
+
 TEST_CODE = \
     r"""
 def _TEST():
@@ -456,7 +453,8 @@ def save_pyc(filename):
     """
     Bytecode compiles the file `filename`
     """
-    py_compile.compile(filename)
+    cfile = "%sc" % filename
+    py_compile.compile(filename, cfile=cfile)
 
 
 def read_pyc(filename):
@@ -470,7 +468,7 @@ def read_pyc(filename):
     data = read_file(filename, 'rb')
     if not is_gae and data[:4] != imp.get_magic():
         raise SystemError('compiled code is incompatible')
-    return marshal.loads(data[8:])
+    return marshal.loads(data[marshal_header_size:])
 
 
 def compile_views(folder, skip_failed_views=False):
diff --git a/gluon/fileutils.py b/gluon/fileutils.py
index 5ccdfaac..27fe8a8d 100644
--- a/gluon/fileutils.py
+++ b/gluon/fileutils.py
@@ -97,14 +97,19 @@ def parse_version(version):
     return version_tuple
 
 
-def read_file(filename, mode='r'):
-    """Returns content from filename, making sure to close the file explicitly
-    on exit.
-    """
+def open_file(filename, mode):
     if PY2 or 'b' in mode:
         f = open(filename, mode)
     else:
         f = open(filename, mode, encoding="utf8")
+    return f
+
+
+def read_file(filename, mode='r'):
+    """Returns content from filename, making sure to close the file explicitly
+    on exit.
+    """
+    f = open_file(filename, mode)
     try:
         return f.read()
     finally:
@@ -115,10 +120,7 @@ def write_file(filename, value, mode='w'):
     """Writes <value> to filename, making sure to close the file
     explicitly on exit.
     """
-    if PY2:
-        f = open(filename, mode)
-    else:
-        f = open(filename, mode, encoding="utf8")
+    f = open_file(filename, mode)
     try:
         return f.write(value)
     finally: