diff --git a/sasl_initial_response.go b/sasl_initial_response.go
index f7e5f36a..f862f2a8 100644
--- a/sasl_initial_response.go
+++ b/sasl_initial_response.go
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ func (src SASLInitialResponse) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 	}{
 		Type:          "SASLInitialResponse",
 		AuthMechanism: src.AuthMechanism,
-		Data:          hex.EncodeToString(src.Data),
+		Data:          string(src.Data),
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/sasl_response.go b/sasl_response.go
index 41fb4c39..d402759a 100644
--- a/sasl_response.go
+++ b/sasl_response.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func (src SASLResponse) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 		Data string
 	}{
 		Type: "SASLResponse",
-		Data: hex.EncodeToString(src.Data),
+		Data: string(src.Data),
 	})
 }