diff --git a/lib/tfw/networking/serialization.py b/lib/tfw/networking/serialization.py
index 26e222e..d26257e 100644
--- a/lib/tfw/networking/serialization.py
+++ b/lib/tfw/networking/serialization.py
@@ -4,6 +4,27 @@
 import json
 
 
+def serialize_all(*args):
+    return tuple(_serialize_single(arg) for arg in args)
+
+
+def deserialize_all(*args):
+    return tuple(_deserialize_single(arg) for arg in args)
+
+
+def _serialize_single(data):
+    if not isinstance(data, str):
+        data = json.dumps(data)
+    return encode_if_needed(data)
+
+
+def _deserialize_single(data):
+    try:
+        return json.loads(data)
+    except ValueError:
+        return decode_if_needed(data)
+
+
 def encode_if_needed(value):
     if isinstance(value, str):
         value = value.encode('utf-8')
@@ -14,11 +35,3 @@ def decode_if_needed(value):
     if isinstance(value, (bytes, bytearray)):
         value = value.decode('utf-8')
     return value
-
-
-def serialize_all(key, data):
-    return [encode_if_needed(frame) for frame in (key, json.dumps(data))]
-
-
-def deserialize_all(key, data):
-    return decode_if_needed(key), json.loads(data)