diff --git a/lib/pel_utils.py b/lib/pel_utils.py
index d15f289..962d434 100644
--- a/lib/pel_utils.py
+++ b/lib/pel_utils.py
@@ -65,8 +65,12 @@
     if parse_json:
         try:
             return json.loads(out_buf)
-        except ValueError:
-            return {}
+        except ValueError as e:
+            if type(out_buf) is str:
+                return out_buf
+            else:
+                print(str(e))
+                return {}
     return out_buf