diff --git a/qa/rpc-tests/rest.py b/qa/rpc-tests/rest.py
index eecbe0a3b..0c67ceacc 100755
--- a/qa/rpc-tests/rest.py
+++ b/qa/rpc-tests/rest.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from struct import *
 import binascii
 import json
 import StringIO
+import decimal
 
 try:
     import http.client as httplib
@@ -252,7 +253,7 @@ class RESTTest (BitcoinTestFramework):
         response_header_json = http_get_call(url.hostname, url.port, '/rest/headers/1/'+bb_hash+self.FORMAT_SEPARATOR+"json", "", True)
         assert_equal(response_header_json.status, 200)
         response_header_json_str = response_header_json.read()
-        json_obj = json.loads(response_header_json_str)
+        json_obj = json.loads(response_header_json_str, parse_float=decimal.Decimal)
         assert_equal(len(json_obj), 1) #ensure that there is one header in the json response
         assert_equal(json_obj[0]['hash'], bb_hash) #request/response hash should be the same