diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 3065d84..8235627 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 	"displayName": "Gitpod",
 	"description": "Required to connect to Classic workspaces",
 	"publisher": "gitpod",
-	"version": "0.0.181",
+	"version": "0.0.182",
 	"license": "MIT",
 	"icon": "resources/gitpod.png",
 	"repository": {
diff --git a/src/publicApi.ts b/src/publicApi.ts
index 2f1b7c2..4e58f2c 100644
--- a/src/publicApi.ts
+++ b/src/publicApi.ts
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ export class GitpodPublicApi extends Disposable implements IGitpodAPI {
             baseUrl: serviceUrl.toString(),
             httpVersion: '2',
             interceptors: [authInterceptor, metricsInterceptor],
-            useBinaryFormat: true,
+            useBinaryFormat: false,
             pingIntervalMs: 120000,
             pingTimeoutMs: 10000
         });