diff --git a/auth_jwt/models/auth_jwt_validator.py b/auth_jwt/models/auth_jwt_validator.py
index 687e8e34a3..5a270aeb16 100644
--- a/auth_jwt/models/auth_jwt_validator.py
+++ b/auth_jwt/models/auth_jwt_validator.py
@@ -226,7 +226,10 @@ def _decode(self, token, secret=None):
             )
             if len((self.audience or "").split(",") or []) > 0:
                 for key_value in (self.audience or "").split(","):
-                    if key_value in (payload.get(payload_key) or "").split(" "):
+                    payload_value = payload.get(payload_key)
+                    if not payload.get(payload_key).isinstance(list):
+                        payload_value = (payload.get(payload_key) or "").split(" ")
+                    if key_value in payload_value:
                         return payload
                 raise UnauthorizedInvalidToken()
         except Exception as e: