diff --git a/synapse/handlers/identity.py b/synapse/handlers/identity.py

index 92b7404706..0ce6ddfbe4 100644
--- a/synapse/handlers/identity.py
+++ b/synapse/handlers/identity.py
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ import logging
 import urllib.parse
 from typing import Awaitable, Callable, Dict, List, Optional, Tuple
 
-from canonicaljson import json
-
 from twisted.internet.error import TimeoutError
 
 from synapse.api.errors import (
@@ -34,6 +32,7 @@ from synapse.api.errors import (
 from synapse.config.emailconfig import ThreepidBehaviour
 from synapse.http.client import SimpleHttpClient
 from synapse.types import JsonDict, Requester
+from synapse.util import json_decoder
 from synapse.util.hash import sha256_and_url_safe_base64
 from synapse.util.stringutils import assert_valid_client_secret, random_string
 
@@ -177,7 +176,7 @@ class IdentityHandler(BaseHandler):
         except TimeoutError:
             raise SynapseError(500, "Timed out contacting identity server")
         except CodeMessageException as e:
-            data = json.loads(e.msg)  # XXX WAT?
+            data = json_decoder.decode(e.msg)  # XXX WAT?
             return data
 
         logger.info("Got 404 when POSTing JSON %s, falling back to v1 URL", bind_url)