diff --git a/src/common/balances.lua b/src/common/balances.lua
index 8f97ca8..e3a12d2 100644
--- a/src/common/balances.lua
+++ b/src/common/balances.lua
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ function balances.transfer(to)
 	Balances = { [to] = 1 }
 	Owner = to
 	Controllers = {}
-	return "Transfer successful"
+	return json.encode({ [to] = 1 })
 end
 
 function balances.balance(address)
@@ -28,13 +28,11 @@ end
 function balances.setName(name)
 	assert(type(name) == "string", "Name must be a string")
 	Name = name
-	return "Name set to " .. name
 end
 
 function balances.setTicker(ticker)
 	assert(type(ticker) == "string", "Ticker must be a string")
 	Ticker = ticker
-	return "Ticker set to " .. ticker
 end
 
 return balances
diff --git a/src/common/controllers.lua b/src/common/controllers.lua
index b1a7f27..432d4f8 100644
--- a/src/common/controllers.lua
+++ b/src/common/controllers.lua
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ function controllers.setController(controller)
 	end
 
 	table.insert(Controllers, controller)
-	return "Controller added"
+	return json.encode(Controllers)
 end
 
 function controllers.removeController(controller)
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ function controllers.removeController(controller)
 	end
 
 	assert(controllerExists ~= nil, "Controller does not exist")
-	return "Controller removed"
 end
 
 function controllers.getControllers()
diff --git a/src/common/initialize.lua b/src/common/initialize.lua
index d4d34e7..d4b69ec 100644
--- a/src/common/initialize.lua
+++ b/src/common/initialize.lua
@@ -31,13 +31,13 @@ function initialize.initializeANTState(state)
 	Records = records
 	Initialized = true
 
-	return {
+	return json.encode({
 		name = Name,
 		ticker = Ticker,
 		balances = Balances,
 		controllers = Controllers,
 		records = Records,
-	}
+	})
 end
 
 local function findObject(array, key, value)
diff --git a/src/common/main.lua b/src/common/main.lua
index 3349383..6081c7d 100644
--- a/src/common/main.lua
+++ b/src/common/main.lua
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ function ant.init()
 				ao.send({ Target = msg.From, Data = result, Error = "Initialize-State-Error", ["Message-Id"] = msg.Id })
 				return
 			else
-				ao.send({ Target = msg.From, Data = json.encode(result) })
+				ao.send({ Target = msg.From, Data = result })
 			end
 		end
 	)
diff --git a/test/controllers.test.js b/test/controllers.test.js
index 2e8d289..60a8a38 100644
--- a/test/controllers.test.js
+++ b/test/controllers.test.js
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe('aos Controllers', async () => {
       ],
     });
 
-    assert(result.Messages[0].Data === 'Controller added');
+    assert(JSON.parse(result.Messages[0].Data).includes(controller), true);
   });
 
   it('Should remove the controller', async () => {
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ describe('aos Controllers', async () => {
       ],
     });
 
-    assert(result.Messages[0].Data === 'Controller removed');
+    assert(result);
 
     const addControllerResult = await handle(
       {
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ describe('aos Controllers', async () => {
       },
       result.Memory,
     );
-    assert.equal(addControllerResult.Messages[0].Data, 'Controller added');
+    assert.equal(
+      JSON.parse(addControllerResult.Messages[0].Data).includes(STUB_ADDRESS),
+      true,
+    );
   });
 });