diff --git a/src/python/dm/daq_web_service/service/experimentSessionController.py b/src/python/dm/daq_web_service/service/experimentSessionController.py
index 5e348959f2d0d12e2a5802298c2e4ebb53f865b3..e62999b8fb324baf4d9cc991027875ad8e0b0c15 100755
--- a/src/python/dm/daq_web_service/service/experimentSessionController.py
+++ b/src/python/dm/daq_web_service/service/experimentSessionController.py
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ class ExperimentSessionController(DmSessionController):
 	if dataDirectory is None or not len(dataDirectory):
 	    raise InvalidRequest('Missing data directory.')
         dataDirectory = Encoder.decode(dataDirectory)
-        daqInfo = kwargs.get('daqInfo')
+        daqInfo = {}
+        encodedDaqInfo = kwargs.get('daqInfo')
         if daqInfo is not None:
-            daqInfo = Encoder.decode(daqInfo)
+            daqInfo = json.loads(Encoder.decode(encodedDaqInfo))
         response = self.experimentSessionControllerImpl.startDaq(experimentName, dataDirectory, daqInfo).getFullJsonRep()
         self.logger.debug('Returning: %s' % response)
         return response