diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/forward.py b/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/forward.py
index da5e2e8b67..7324cee77e 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/forward.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/forward.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ class Meta:
         message_type = FORWARD
         schema_class = "ForwardSchema"
 
-    def __init__(self, *, to: str = None, msg: str = None, **kwargs):
+    def __init__(self, *, to: str = None, msg: dict = None, **kwargs):
         """
         Initialize forward message object.
 
@@ -41,4 +41,4 @@ class Meta:
         model_class = Forward
 
     to = fields.Str(required=True)
-    msg = fields.Str(required=True)
+    msg = fields.Dict(required=True)
diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/tests/test_forward.py b/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/tests/test_forward.py
index 79cd74577b..9c14457721 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/tests/test_forward.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/protocols/routing/messages/tests/test_forward.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ def test_serialize(self, message_schema_dump):
 
 class TestForwardSchema(TestCase):
     def test_make_model(self):
-        message = Forward(to="to", msg="msg")
+        message = Forward(to="to", msg={"some": "msg"})
         data = message.serialize()
         model_instance = Forward.deserialize(data)
         assert isinstance(model_instance, Forward)
diff --git a/aries_cloudagent/transport/pack_format.py b/aries_cloudagent/transport/pack_format.py
index 75ba6b04bd..40ea2f39cf 100644
--- a/aries_cloudagent/transport/pack_format.py
+++ b/aries_cloudagent/transport/pack_format.py
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ async def pack(
         if routing_keys:
             recip_keys = recipient_keys
             for router_key in routing_keys:
+                message = json.loads(message.decode("utf-8"))
                 fwd_msg = Forward(to=recip_keys[0], msg=message)
                 # Forwards are anon packed
                 recip_keys = [router_key]