diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index cca6534..aead3c8 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ function create(defaults) {
 	 * @param {(...args: Args[]) => R} fn
 	 * @returns {(array: Args[]) => R}
 	 */
-	redaxios.spread = (fn) => /** @type {any} */ (fn.apply.bind(fn, fn));
+	redaxios.spread = (fn) => /** @type {any} */(fn.apply.bind(fn, fn));
 
 	/**
 	 * @private
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ function create(defaults) {
 				// @ts-ignore accessing match()[2] throws for no match, which is intentional
 				document.cookie.match(RegExp('(^|; )' + options.xsrfCookieName + '=([^;]*)'))[2]
 			);
-		} catch (e) {}
+		} catch (e) { }
 
 		if (options.baseURL) {
 			url = url.replace(/^(?!.*\/\/)\/?/, options.baseURL + '/');
@@ -213,8 +213,16 @@ function create(defaults) {
 			return res[options.responseType || 'text']()
 				.then((data) => {
 					response.data = data;
-					// its okay if this fails: response.data will be the unparsed value:
-					response.data = JSON.parse(data);
+
+					// Only attempt to parse if the user actually wants JSON 
+					// or if using the default 'json' type
+					if (!options.responseType || options.responseType === 'json') {
+						try {
+							response.data = JSON.parse(data);
+						} catch (e) {
+							// do nothing and retur the no parsed data
+						}
+					}
 				})
 				.catch(Object)
 				.then(() => {