diff --git a/Lib/io.py b/Lib/io.py
index a88b5a41fef..940c4c776c8 100644
--- a/Lib/io.py
+++ b/Lib/io.py
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ def read(self, n=None):
         if n < 0:
             n = len(self._buffer)
         if len(self._buffer) <= self._pos:
-            return bytes(self._buffer[:0])
+            return b""
         newpos = min(len(self._buffer), self._pos + n)
         b = self._buffer[self._pos : newpos]
         self._pos = newpos