diff --git a/combo/apps/lingo/views.py b/combo/apps/lingo/views.py
index 70ed64b8..18670f6f 100644
--- a/combo/apps/lingo/views.py
+++ b/combo/apps/lingo/views.py
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class AddBasketItemApiView(View):
         if not lingo_check_request_signature(request):
             return HttpResponseForbidden()
 
-        request_body = json.loads(self.request.body)
+        request_body = json.loads(force_text(self.request.body))
         extra = request_body.get('extra', {})
 
         if not 'amount' in request.GET and not 'amount' in request_body and \
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ class RemoveBasketItemApiView(View):
         if not lingo_check_request_signature(request):
             return HttpResponseForbidden()
 
-        request_body = json.loads(self.request.body)
+        request_body = json.loads(force_text(self.request.body))
 
         if not 'basket_item_id' in request_body:
             raise Exception('missing basket_item_id parameter')