diff --git a/io/src/vtk_lib_io.cpp b/io/src/vtk_lib_io.cpp
index e00bd79d97a..1e033702911 100644
--- a/io/src/vtk_lib_io.cpp
+++ b/io/src/vtk_lib_io.cpp
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ pcl::io::savePolygonFileVTK (const std::string &file_name,
   poly_writer->SetInputData (poly_data);
 #endif
 
-  if (!binary_format)
-    poly_writer->SetFileTypeToASCII ();
+  if (binary_format)
+    poly_writer->SetFileTypeToBinary ();
 
   poly_writer->SetFileName (file_name.c_str ());
   return (poly_writer->Write ());
@@ -206,8 +206,8 @@ pcl::io::savePolygonFilePLY (const std::string &file_name,
   poly_writer->SetInputData (poly_data);
 #endif
 
-  if (!binary_format)
-    poly_writer->SetFileTypeToASCII ();
+  if (binary_format)
+    poly_writer->SetFileTypeToBinary ();
 
   poly_writer->SetFileName (file_name.c_str ());
 	poly_writer->SetArrayName ("Colors");
@@ -230,8 +230,8 @@ pcl::io::savePolygonFileSTL (const std::string &file_name,
   poly_writer->SetInputData (poly_data);
 #endif
 
-  if (!binary_format)
-    poly_writer->SetFileTypeToASCII ();
+  if (binary_format)
+    poly_writer->SetFileTypeToBinary ();
 
   poly_writer->SetFileName (file_name.c_str ());
   return (poly_writer->Write ());