diff --git a/src/pyDataverse/api.py b/src/pyDataverse/api.py
index de4a828..cfa67d4 100644
--- a/src/pyDataverse/api.py
+++ b/src/pyDataverse/api.py
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ def get_request(self, url, params=None, auth=False):
                 )
 
         try:
-            resp = get(url, params=params)
+            resp = get(url, params=params, stream=True)
             if resp.status_code == 401:
                 error_msg = resp.json()["message"]
                 raise ApiAuthorizationError(
@@ -180,7 +180,8 @@ def post_request(self, url, data=None, auth=False, params=None, files=None):
                 raise ApiAuthorizationError("ERROR: POST - Api token not available.")
 
         try:
-            resp = post(url, data=data, params=params, files=files)
+            resp = post(url, data=data, params=params, files=files,
+                        stream=True)
             if resp.status_code == 401:
                 error_msg = resp.json()["message"]
                 raise ApiAuthorizationError(
@@ -1662,7 +1663,8 @@ def get_datafile_metadata(
             # CHECK: Its not really clear, if the version query can also be done via ID.
         return self.get_request(url, auth=auth)
 
-    def upload_datafile(self, identifier, filename, json_str=None, is_pid=True):
+    def upload_datafile(self, identifier, file_name, json_str=None, is_pid=True,
+                        file_object=None):
         """Add file to a dataset.
 
         Add a file to an existing Dataset. Description and tags are optional:
@@ -1683,13 +1685,16 @@ def upload_datafile(self, identifier, filename, json_str=None, is_pid=True):
         ----------
         identifier : str
             Identifier of the dataset.
-        filename : str
-            Full filename with path.
+        file_name : str
+            File name and path. If file_object is ``None``, a file in this path is opened in
+            read binary mode for upload
         json_str : str
             Metadata as JSON string.
         is_pid : bool
             ``True`` to use persistent identifier. ``False``, if not.
-
+        file_object : file
+            Defaults to ``None``. Otherwise, it is expected to be a file object which will be uploaded.
+            In this case, the filename is treated as text and passed on to dataverse
         Returns
         -------
         dict
@@ -1702,8 +1707,10 @@ def upload_datafile(self, identifier, filename, json_str=None, is_pid=True):
             url += "/datasets/:persistentId/add?persistentId={0}".format(identifier)
         else:
             url += "/datasets/{0}/add".format(identifier)
-
-        files = {"file": open(filename, "rb")}
+        if file_object is None:
+            files = {"file": open(file_name, "rb")}
+        else:
+            files = {"file": (file_name, file_object)}
         return self.post_request(
             url, data={"jsonData": json_str}, files=files, auth=True
         )