diff --git a/rowers/mytypes.py b/rowers/mytypes.py
index 6a10e967..e8b7aa9b 100644
--- a/rowers/mytypes.py
+++ b/rowers/mytypes.py
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@ from __future__ import unicode_literals
 from six import iteritems
 import collections
 
+
+
+
 workouttypes_ordered = collections.OrderedDict({
     'water':'Standard Racing Shell',
     'rower':'Indoor Rower',
@@ -289,7 +292,7 @@ workoutsources = (
     ('ergstick','ergstick'),
     ('fit','fit'),
     ('unknown','unknown'))
-    
+
 boattypes = (
     ('1x', '1x (single)'),
     ('2x', '2x (double)'),
diff --git a/rowers/views/workoutviews.py b/rowers/views/workoutviews.py
index 743ecb71..39a88629 100644
--- a/rowers/views/workoutviews.py
+++ b/rowers/views/workoutviews.py
@@ -4394,6 +4394,15 @@ def workout_upload_api(request):
         message = {'status':'false','message':'this view cannot be accessed through GET'}
         return JSONResponse(status=403,data=message)
 
+
+    # test if JSON
+    try:
+        json_data = json.loads(request.body)
+        secret = json_data['secret']
+        post_data = json_data
+    except KeyError:
+        post_data = request.POST
+
     # only allow local host
     hostt = request.get_host().split(':')
     if hostt[0] not in ['localhost','127.0.0.1']:
@@ -4401,17 +4410,22 @@ def workout_upload_api(request):
         return JSONResponse(status=403,data=message)
 
     # check credentials here
-    secret = request.POST['secret']
+    try:
+        secret = post_data['secret']
+    except KeyError:
+        message = {'status': 'false', 'message':'missing credentials'}
+        return JSONResponse(status=400,data=message)
     if secret != settings.UPLOAD_SERVICE_SECRET:
         message = {'status':'false','message':'invalid credentials'}
         return JSONResponse(status=403,data=message)
 
-    form = DocumentsForm(request.POST)
-    optionsform = TeamUploadOptionsForm(request.POST)
-    rowerform = TeamInviteForm(request.POST)
+    form = DocumentsForm(post_data)
+    optionsform = TeamUploadOptionsForm(post_data)
+    rowerform = TeamInviteForm(post_data)
     rowerform.fields.pop('email')
     try:
-        fstr = request.POST['file']
+        fstr = post_data['file']
+        print(fstr)
         nn, ext = os.path.splitext(fstr)
         if ext== '.gz':
             nn, ext2 = os.path.splitext(nn)
@@ -4433,8 +4447,8 @@ def workout_upload_api(request):
         if rowerform.is_valid():
             u = rowerform.cleaned_data['user']
             r = getrower(u)
-        elif 'useremail' in request.POST:
-            us = User.objects.filter(email=request.POST['useremail'])
+        elif 'useremail' in post_data:
+            us = User.objects.filter(email=post_data['useremail'])
             if len(us):
                 u = us[0]
                 r = getrower(u)