diff --git a/network/cisco/meraki/cloudcontroller/restapi/custom/api.pm b/network/cisco/meraki/cloudcontroller/restapi/custom/api.pm
index c70f0b2df..86243d21c 100644
--- a/network/cisco/meraki/cloudcontroller/restapi/custom/api.pm
+++ b/network/cisco/meraki/cloudcontroller/restapi/custom/api.pm
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ sub request_api {
 
         my $content;
         eval {
-            $content = JSON::XS->new->utf8->decode($response);
+            $content = JSON::XS->new->allow_nonref(1)->utf8->decode($response);
         };
         if ($@) {
             $self->{output}->add_option_msg(short_msg => "Cannot decode json response: $@");