diff --git a/memphis/memphis.py b/memphis/memphis.py
index 9b0460c..9811977 100644
--- a/memphis/memphis.py
+++ b/memphis/memphis.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 from threading import Timer
 from typing import Callable, Iterable, Union
 import uuid
+import base64
 
 import graphql
 import nats as broker
@@ -427,7 +428,7 @@ def parse_descriptor(self, station_name):
                 "message_struct_name"
             ]
             desc_set = descriptor_pb2.FileDescriptorSet()
-            descriptor_bytes = str.encode(descriptor)
+            descriptor_bytes = base64.b64decode(descriptor)
             desc_set.ParseFromString(descriptor_bytes)
             pool = descriptor_pool.DescriptorPool()
             pool.Add(desc_set.file[0])