diff --git a/syndicate/drivers/web.rkt b/syndicate/drivers/web.rkt
index 7f9e2cc..e741bd6 100644
--- a/syndicate/drivers/web.rkt
+++ b/syndicate/drivers/web.rkt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 (require racket/exn)
 (require (only-in racket/list flatten))
 (require (only-in racket/string string-append*))
+(require (only-in racket/bytes bytes-append*))
 (require racket/tcp)
 
 (require net/rfc6455)
@@ -190,7 +191,14 @@
                  (on-stop (channel-put ws-ch 'quit)
                           (stop-facet root-facet))
                  (on (message (websocket-out id $body))
-                     (channel-put ws-ch (list 'send (string-append* (flatten body)))))
+                     (define flat (flatten body))
+                     (define payload (cond [(null? flat) ""]
+                                           [(bytes? (car flat)) (bytes-append* flat)]
+                                           [(string? (car flat)) (string-append* flat)]
+                                           [else (error 'respond/websocket!
+                                                        "Bad payload: mixed content: ~v"
+                                                        flat)]))
+                     (channel-put ws-ch (list 'send payload)))
                  (on (message (inbound (websocket-in id $body)))
                      (if (eof-object? body)
                          (stop-current-facet)
@@ -297,7 +305,7 @@
                                (shutdown!)))]
     (let loop ()
       (sync (handle-evt wsc (lambda _args
-                              (define msg (ws-recv wsc #:payload-type 'text))
+                              (define msg (ws-recv wsc #:payload-type 'auto))
                               (ground-send! (inbound (websocket-in id msg)))
                               (loop)))
             (handle-evt ws-ch (match-lambda
@@ -305,7 +313,7 @@
                                  (set! quit-seen? #t)
                                  (void)]
                                 [(list 'send m)
-                                 (ws-send! wsc m)
+                                 (ws-send! wsc m #:payload-type (if (bytes? m) 'binary 'text))
                                  (loop)]))))
     (ws-close! wsc))
   (when (not quit-seen?)