diff --git a/app/scripts/lib/crypto/util.js b/app/scripts/lib/crypto/util.js
index d51c478ba..31beacdb5 100644
--- a/app/scripts/lib/crypto/util.js
+++ b/app/scripts/lib/crypto/util.js
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
  * file, You can obtain one at http://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/. */
 
 /**
- * Converts base64url to an ArrayBuffer
+ * Converts base64url to a Uint8Array
  * @param {String} base64
- * @returns {ArrayBufferLike}
+ * @returns {Uint8Array}
  */
-function base64urlToArrayBuffer(base64 = '') {
+function base64urlToUint8Array(base64 = '') {
   base64 = base64.replace(/-/g, '+'); // 62nd char of encoding
   base64 = base64.replace(/_/g, '/'); // 63rd char of encoding
   const binaryString = atob(base64);
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ function base64urlToArrayBuffer(base64 = '') {
   for (let i = 0; i < len; i++){
     bytes[i] = binaryString.charCodeAt(i);
   }
-  return bytes.buffer;
+  return bytes;
 }
 
 module.exports = {
-  base64urlToArrayBuffer
+  base64urlToUint8Array
 };
diff --git a/app/scripts/lib/pairing-channel-client.js b/app/scripts/lib/pairing-channel-client.js
index c03a75a42..2ba707a37 100644
--- a/app/scripts/lib/pairing-channel-client.js
+++ b/app/scripts/lib/pairing-channel-client.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 import PairingChannelClientErrors from './pairing-channel-client-errors';
 import { Model } from 'backbone';
 import { pick } from 'underscore';
-import { base64urlToArrayBuffer } from './crypto/util';
+import { base64urlToUint8Array } from './crypto/util';
 import Raven from 'raven';
 import Vat from 'lib/vat';
 
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ export default class PairingChannelClient extends Model {
         throw PairingChannelClientErrors.toError('INVALID_CONFIGURATION');
       }
 
-      const psk = base64urlToArrayBuffer(channelKey);
+      const psk = base64urlToUint8Array(channelKey);
       return FxAccountsPairingChannel.PairingChannel.connect(channelServerUri, channelId, psk).then((channel) => {
 
         this.channel = channel;
diff --git a/app/tests/spec/lib/crypto/util.js b/app/tests/spec/lib/crypto/util.js
index b2b0dd38a..ac5caa4d5 100644
--- a/app/tests/spec/lib/crypto/util.js
+++ b/app/tests/spec/lib/crypto/util.js
@@ -5,25 +5,25 @@
 'use strict';
 
 import {assert} from 'chai';
-import {base64urlToArrayBuffer} from 'lib/crypto/util';
+import {base64urlToUint8Array} from 'lib/crypto/util';
 
-describe('lib/crypto/util/base64urlToArrayBuffer', () => {
+describe('lib/crypto/util/base64urlToUint8Array', () => {
   it('should decode base64url undefined as empty string', () => {
-    const arrayBuffer = base64urlToArrayBuffer();
-    assert.equal(arrayBuffer.constructor.name, 'ArrayBuffer', 'is an array buffer');
-    assert.equal(new Int8Array(arrayBuffer)[0], undefined, 'is correct value for empty string');
+    const uint8array = base64urlToUint8Array();
+    assert.equal(uint8array.constructor.name, 'Uint8Array', 'is a Uint8Array');
+    assert.equal(new Int8Array(uint8array)[0], undefined, 'is correct value for empty string');
   });
 
   it('should decode base64url empty string', () => {
-    const arrayBuffer = base64urlToArrayBuffer('');
-    assert.equal(arrayBuffer.constructor.name, 'ArrayBuffer', 'is an array buffer');
-    assert.equal(new Int8Array(arrayBuffer)[0], undefined, 'is correct value for empty string');
+    const uint8array = base64urlToUint8Array('');
+    assert.equal(uint8array.constructor.name, 'Uint8Array', 'is a Uint8Array');
+    assert.equal(new Int8Array(uint8array)[0], undefined, 'is correct value for empty string');
   });
 
   it('should decode base64url test', () => {
-    const arrayBuffer = base64urlToArrayBuffer('dGVzdA==');
-    assert.equal(arrayBuffer.constructor.name, 'ArrayBuffer', 'is an array buffer');
-    const int8Array = new Int8Array(arrayBuffer);
+    const uint8array = base64urlToUint8Array('dGVzdA==');
+    assert.equal(uint8array.constructor.name, 'Uint8Array', 'is a Uint8Array');
+    const int8Array = new Int8Array(uint8array);
     assert.equal(int8Array[0], 116);
     assert.equal(int8Array[1], 101);
     assert.equal(int8Array[2], 115);