diff --git a/lbry/db/database.py b/lbry/db/database.py
index 2ce8ea96f..e42b50e3d 100644
--- a/lbry/db/database.py
+++ b/lbry/db/database.py
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class Database:
     async def resolve(self, urls, **kwargs) -> Dict[str, Output]:
         return await self.run(q.resolve, urls, **kwargs)
 
-    async def protobuf_resolve(self, urls, **kwargs) -> bytes:
+    async def protobuf_resolve(self, urls, **kwargs) -> str:
         return await self.run(q.protobuf_resolve, urls, **kwargs)
 
     async def get_txo_sum(self, **constraints) -> int:
diff --git a/lbry/db/queries/resolve.py b/lbry/db/queries/resolve.py
index 73e402998..5139f18ea 100644
--- a/lbry/db/queries/resolve.py
+++ b/lbry/db/queries/resolve.py
@@ -36,8 +36,8 @@ def _get_referenced_rows(txo_rows: List[dict], censor_channels: List[bytes]):
     return channel_txos + reposted_txos
 
 
-def protobuf_resolve(urls, **kwargs) -> bytes:
-    return ResultOutput.to_bytes([resolve_url(raw_url) for raw_url in urls], [])
+def protobuf_resolve(urls, **kwargs) -> str:
+    return ResultOutput.to_base64([resolve_url(raw_url) for raw_url in urls], [])
 
 
 def resolve(urls, **kwargs) -> Dict[str, Output]:
diff --git a/lbry/service/json_encoder.py b/lbry/service/json_encoder.py
index e30ae75b5..cbef04fb9 100644
--- a/lbry/service/json_encoder.py
+++ b/lbry/service/json_encoder.py
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class JSONResponseEncoder(JSONEncoder):
         if isinstance(obj, Decimal):
             return float(obj)
         if isinstance(obj, bytes):
-            return hexlify(obj).decode()
+            return obj.decode()
         return super().default(obj)
 
     def encode_transaction(self, tx):