diff --git a/server/src/tellmesrv.py b/server/src/tellmesrv.py
index a88a8a7..90882c2 100644
--- a/server/src/tellmesrv.py
+++ b/server/src/tellmesrv.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def sendmessage(target, message):
     ws.close()
 
     for chatitem in response['resp']['chatItems']:
-        status = chatitem['chatItem']['meta']['itemStatus']
+        status = json.loads(chatitem['chatItem']['meta']['itemStatus'])
         pprint(status)
         smessage = chatitem['chatItem']['meta']['itemText']
         print("Message %s sent over websocket to %s, status was %s" % (smessage, target, status))