diff --git a/src/common/crypto/Algorithm.cpp b/src/common/crypto/Algorithm.cpp
index 3123c361e..168468f48 100644
--- a/src/common/crypto/Algorithm.cpp
+++ b/src/common/crypto/Algorithm.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ void xmrig::Algorithm::parseAlgorithm(const char *algo)
 void xmrig::Algorithm::parseVariant(const char *variant)
 {
     if (m_algo == CRYPTONIGHT_HEAVY) {
+        m_variant = VARIANT_0;
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/common/net/Client.cpp b/src/common/net/Client.cpp
index c53397a34..921fa618b 100644
--- a/src/common/net/Client.cpp
+++ b/src/common/net/Client.cpp
@@ -274,7 +274,14 @@ bool Client::parseJob(const rapidjson::Value &params, int *code)
     }
 
     if (params.HasMember("variant")) {
-        job.algorithm().parseVariant(params["variant"].GetInt());
+        const rapidjson::Value &variant = params["variant"];
+
+        if (variant.IsInt()) {
+            job.algorithm().parseVariant(variant.GetInt());
+        }
+        else if (variant.IsString()){
+            job.algorithm().parseVariant(variant.GetString());
+        }
     }
 
     if (!verifyAlgorithm(job.algorithm())) {