diff --git a/set_release_version.py b/set_release_version.py
index d3b0fe0a6..a8ea10add 100755
--- a/set_release_version.py
+++ b/set_release_version.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 import os
 from datetime import date
-
+import json
 import toml
 
 TODAY = date.today()
@@ -13,6 +13,11 @@
 TODAYS_MONTH = str(TODAY.month)
 
 tags = os.getenv("TAGS")
+assert isinstance(tags, str)
+print(type(tags))
+tags = json.loads(tags)
+print(type(tags))
+print(tags)
 
 '''
 tags = [