diff --git a/src/libsync/clientsideencryption.cpp b/src/libsync/clientsideencryption.cpp
index 4444dbbfe5..96a4bbce87 100644
--- a/src/libsync/clientsideencryption.cpp
+++ b/src/libsync/clientsideencryption.cpp
@@ -776,9 +776,7 @@ std::string FolderMetadata::decryptMetadataKeys(const std::string& encryptedMeta
 {
     qCInfo(lcCse()) << "Starting to decrypt the metadata key";
     unsigned char *out;
-    unsigned char *in;
     size_t outlen;
-    size_t inlen;
     int err = -1;
 
     auto path = privateKeyPath(_account);
@@ -786,6 +784,12 @@ std::string FolderMetadata::decryptMetadataKeys(const std::string& encryptedMeta
     auto pkeyFile = fopen(pathC, "r");
     auto key = PEM_read_PrivateKey(pkeyFile, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 
+    // Data is base64 encoded.
+    auto raw = QByteArray(encryptedMetadata.c_str(), encryptedMetadata.length());
+    auto b64d = QByteArray::fromBase64(raw);
+    auto in = (unsigned char *) b64d.constData();
+    size_t inlen = b64d.length();
+
     /* NB: assumes key in, inlen are already set up
     * and that key is an RSA private key
     */