diff --git a/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py b/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py
index 6eeca5d..04346b4 100644
--- a/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py
+++ b/pillar_tool/db/queries/pillar_queries.py
@@ -43,6 +43,6 @@ def get_pillar_for_target(db: Session, target: UUID) -> dict:
                     current[label] = {}
                 current = current[label]
             else:
-                current[label] = json.loads(str(value))
+                current[label] = value
 
     return out
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 00a2693..b43fd90 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "pillartool"
-version = "0.1.0"
+version = "0.5.0"
 description = "Add your description here"
 requires-python = ">=3.13"
 dependencies = [