diff --git a/renderer.py b/renderer.py
index b08f151..aa34587 100644
--- a/renderer.py
+++ b/renderer.py
@@ -827,7 +827,7 @@ def render_routes():
                 # and which route ID to make primary.  We then toggle each route
                 # in order, with the primary route being toggled last
                 # Step 1:  Create an array of all route_id's
-                json_payload = json.loads(route_id_list)
+                json_payload = json.loads(str(route_id_list))
 
                 app.logger.debug("[%s] Machine:  [%s]  %s : %s / %s", str(route_id), str(machine_id), str(machine), str(is_enabled), str(is_primary))
                 app.logger.debug(str(all_routes["routes"][idx]))