diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 4eda5cc..e53a162 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "eu4save"
 version = "0.8.2"
-source = "git+https://github.com/rakaly/eu4save.git#480250eedc8351d0c91c8822dd8756f45e6f3143"
+source = "git+https://github.com/rakaly/eu4save.git#d124fa13876777d330fea1a9c5b55a9afcd44c13"
 dependencies = [
  "flate2",
  "jomini",
@@ -370,8 +370,9 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "imperator-save"
 version = "0.4.2"
-source = "git+https://github.com/rakaly/imperator-save.git#70e66caade56820832e1b27f0d40faaf15926376"
+source = "git+https://github.com/rakaly/imperator-save.git#6b9758be506ecef2e90f40f58a967cc2bd81f6ee"
 dependencies = [
+ "flate2",
  "jomini",
  "libdeflater",
  "serde",
diff --git a/src/json.rs b/src/json.rs
index 4445c2d..0c35028 100644
--- a/src/json.rs
+++ b/src/json.rs
@@ -9,10 +9,7 @@ use hoi4save::{
     file::{Hoi4ParsedFileKind, Hoi4Text},
     Hoi4File,
 };
-use imperator_save::{
-    file::{ImperatorParsedFileKind, ImperatorText},
-    ImperatorFile,
-};
+use imperator_save::{file::ImperatorText, ImperatorFile};
 use jomini::{
     json::{DuplicateKeyMode, JsonOptions},
     TextTape,
@@ -124,28 +121,21 @@ impl JsonCommand {
             }
             Some(x) if x == "rome" => {
                 let file = ImperatorFile::from_slice(&data)?;
-                let mut zip_sink = Vec::new();
-                let parsed_file = file.parse(&mut zip_sink)?;
-                match parsed_file.kind() {
-                    ImperatorParsedFileKind::Text(text) => text
-                        .reader()
-                        .json()
-                        .with_options(options)
-                        .to_writer(std::io::stdout()),
-                    ImperatorParsedFileKind::Binary(binary) => {
-                        let melted = binary
-                            .melter()
-                            .verbatim(verbatim)
-                            .on_failed_resolve(strategy)
-                            .melt(&imperator_save::EnvTokens)?;
-                        ImperatorText::from_slice(melted.data())
-                            .context("unable to parse melted imperator output")?
-                            .reader()
-                            .json()
-                            .with_options(options)
-                            .to_writer(std::io::stdout())
-                    }
-                }
+                let mut out = Cursor::new(Vec::new());
+                let text = if !matches!(file.encoding(), imperator_save::Encoding::Text) {
+                    file.melter()
+                        .on_failed_resolve(strategy)
+                        .verbatim(verbatim)
+                        .melt(&mut out, &imperator_save::EnvTokens)?;
+                    ImperatorText::from_slice(out.get_ref().as_slice())?
+                } else {
+                    ImperatorText::from_slice(&data)?
+                };
+
+                text.reader()
+                    .json()
+                    .with_options(options)
+                    .to_writer(std::io::stdout())
             }
             Some(x) if x == "hoi4" => {
                 let file = Hoi4File::from_slice(&data)?;
diff --git a/src/melt.rs b/src/melt.rs
index 2899c9e..953b115 100644
--- a/src/melt.rs
+++ b/src/melt.rs
@@ -130,15 +130,11 @@ impl Melter {
             }
             MelterKind::Imperator => {
                 let file = imperator_save::ImperatorFile::from_slice(data)?;
-                let mut zip_sink = Vec::new();
-                let parsed_file = file.parse(&mut zip_sink)?;
-                let binary = parsed_file.as_binary().context("not imperator binary")?;
-                let out = binary
+                let out = file
                     .melter()
                     .on_failed_resolve(self.options.resolve)
                     .verbatim(self.options.retain)
-                    .melt(&imperator_save::EnvTokens)?;
-                writer.write_all(out.data())?;
+                    .melt(writer, &imperator_save::EnvTokens)?;
                 Ok(MeltedDocument::Imperator(out))
             }
             MelterKind::Vic3 => {