diff --git a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/explorer.py b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/explorer.py
index 92757591..9e677113 100644
--- a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/explorer.py
+++ b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/explorer.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def get_permissions(self, asset: str = None):
         Returns:
           dict: Dictionary of user permissions
         """
-        res = self._sumo.get("/userpermissions")
+        res = self._sumo.get("/userpermissions").json()
 
         if asset is not None:
             if asset not in res:
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ async def get_permissions_async(self, asset: str = None):
           dict: Dictionary of user permissions
         """
         res = await self._sumo.get_async("/userpermissions")
+        res = res.json()
 
         if asset is not None:
             if asset not in res:
diff --git a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/_child.py b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/_child.py
index dfe6e3b3..64173fa7 100644
--- a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/_child.py
+++ b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/_child.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def blob(self) -> BytesIO:
         """Object blob"""
         if self._blob is None:
             res = self._sumo.get(f"/objects('{self.uuid}')/blob")
-            self._blob = BytesIO(res)
+            self._blob = BytesIO(res.content)
 
         return self._blob
 
@@ -87,6 +87,6 @@ async def blob_async(self) -> BytesIO:
         """Object blob"""
         if self._blob is None:
             res = await self._sumo.get_async(f"/objects('{self.uuid}')/blob")
-            self._blob = BytesIO(res)
+            self._blob = BytesIO(res.content)
 
         return self._blob
diff --git a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/cube.py b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/cube.py
index 77d1a7c7..021d794e 100644
--- a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/cube.py
+++ b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/cube.py
@@ -31,22 +31,22 @@ def __init__(self, sumo: SumoClient, metadata: Dict) -> None:
     def _populate_url(self):
         res = self._sumo.get(f"/objects('{self.uuid}')/blob/authuri")
         try:
-            res = json.loads(res.decode("UTF-8"))
+            res = res.json()
             self._url = res.get("baseuri") + self.uuid
             self._sas = res.get("auth")
         except Exception:
-            self._url = res.decode("UTF-8")
+            self._url = res.text
 
     async def _populate_url_async(self):
         res = await self._sumo.get_async(
             f"/objects('{self.uuid}')/blob/authuri"
         )
         try:
-            res = json.loads(res.decode("UTF-8"))
+            res = res.json()
             self._url = res.get("baseuri") + self.uuid
             self._sas = res.get("auth")
         except Exception:
-            self._url = res.decode("UTF-8")
+            self._url = res.text
 
     @property
     def url(self) -> str:
diff --git a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/dictionary.py b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/dictionary.py
index 9412d294..92f5b05d 100644
--- a/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/dictionary.py
+++ b/src/fmu/sumo/explorer/objects/dictionary.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ def blob(self) -> bytes:
         """Object blob"""
         if self._blob is None:
             res = self._sumo.get(f"/objects('{self.uuid}')/blob")
-            self._blob = res
+            self._blob = res.content
 
         return self._blob