diff --git a/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py b/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py
index 8c144e70eb4..55b4359d75b 100644
--- a/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py
+++ b/tensorflow/python/lib/io/file_io.py
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class FileIO(object):
     else:
       self._prewrite_check()
 
-      return self._writable_file.read()
+      return self._writable_file.tell()
 
   def __enter__(self):
     """Make usable with "with" statement."""