diff --git a/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py b/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py
index c199f4c5e..04a3c2d7e 100644
--- a/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py
+++ b/monasca_api/v2/reference/helpers.py
@@ -122,7 +122,11 @@ def get_query_param(req, param_name, required=False, default_val=None):
     try:
         params = falcon.uri.parse_query_string(req.query_string)
         if param_name in params:
-            param_val = params[param_name].decode('utf8')
+            if isinstance(params[param_name], list):
+                param_val = params[param_name][0].decode('utf8')
+            else:
+                param_val = params[param_name].decode('utf8')
+
             return param_val
         else:
             if required: