diff --git a/lib/verify-stream.js b/lib/verify-stream.js
index 39f7c73..984cd7c 100644
--- a/lib/verify-stream.js
+++ b/lib/verify-stream.js
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ function jwsDecode(jwsSig, opts) {
 
   var payload = payloadFromJWS(jwsSig);
   if (header.typ === 'JWT' || opts.json)
-    payload = JSON.parse(payload, opts.encoding);
+    payload = JSON.parse(payload);
 
   return {
     header: header,