diff --git a/pyzotero/zotero.py b/pyzotero/zotero.py
index 7164686..2819837 100644
--- a/pyzotero/zotero.py
+++ b/pyzotero/zotero.py
@@ -204,8 +204,13 @@ def wrapped_f(self, *args, **kwargs):
             return retrieved.content
         # no need to do anything special, return JSON
         else:
-            return retrieved.json()
-
+            # is this a snapshot though?
+            retr = retrieved.json()
+            # I know, I know
+            if isinstance(retr, dict) and retr.get('data', {}).get('linkMode', {}) == u"imported_url":
+                return retrieved.content
+            else:
+                return retr
     return wrapped_f
 
 
diff --git a/test/api_responses/attachments_doc.json b/test/api_responses/attachments_doc.json
index 09328dc..4c0ccb5 100644
--- a/test/api_responses/attachments_doc.json
+++ b/test/api_responses/attachments_doc.json
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
         "itemType": "attachment",
         "title": "1641 Depositions",
         "accessDate": "2012-01-11T19:54:47Z",
-        "linkMode": "imported_url",
+        "linkMode": "idk",
         "charset": "utf-8",
         "relations": {},
         "filename": "project-conservation.html",