diff --git a/bin/libbfa/__init__.py b/bin/libbfa/__init__.py
index e540c4a1c632ae20fdf5dd3028fd3479c1a6df09..b679f720d836f5632b75db27a216ccca58737a27 100755
--- a/bin/libbfa/__init__.py
+++ b/bin/libbfa/__init__.py
@@ -386,6 +386,8 @@ class CompiledContract:
             where = json.loads(where)
         if (type(where) is dict) and 'abi' in where:
             where = where['abi']
+        if type(where) is str:
+            where = json.loads(where)
         return Abi(where)
 
     def instance(self, *args, **kwargs):