diff --git a/routes/routes.go b/routes/routes.go
index e0b017b..e97c6a2 100644
--- a/routes/routes.go
+++ b/routes/routes.go
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ package routes
 
 import (
 	"crypto/sha512"
-	"encoding/base64"
+	"encoding/hex"
 	"net/http"
 
 	"git.1750studios.com/ToddShepard/ShortDragon/database"
@@ -47,17 +47,17 @@ func Encode(c *gin.Context) {
 	if URL.Short.String == "" {
 		hasher := sha512.New()
 		hasher.Write([]byte(URL.Long.String))
-		base := base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(hasher.Sum(nil))
+		hash := hex.EncodeToString(hasher.Sum(nil))
 		i := 2
 		for {
-			database.Db.Model(&database.URL{}).Where("short = ?", base[0:i]).Count(&count)
-			if count > 0 && i < len(base) {
+			database.Db.Model(&database.URL{}).Where("short = ?", hash[0:i]).Count(&count)
+			if count > 0 && i < len(hash) {
 				i = i + 1
 			} else if count > 0 {
 				c.AbortWithStatus(http.StatusConflict)
 				return
 			} else {
-				URL.Short.String = base[0:i]
+				URL.Short.String = hash[0:i]
 				break
 			}
 		}