diff --git a/backends/kafka/read.go b/backends/kafka/read.go
index 124b0e08..94bab858 100644
--- a/backends/kafka/read.go
+++ b/backends/kafka/read.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/batchcorp/plumber/pb"
 	"github.com/batchcorp/plumber/printer"
+	"github.com/batchcorp/plumber/util"
 )
 
 type IReader interface {
@@ -155,14 +156,29 @@ func (r *Reader) Read(ctx context.Context) error {
 			msg.Value = decoded
 		}
 
-		var str string
+		var data []byte
+		var convertErr error
 
-		if r.Options.Convert == "base64" {
-			str = base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(msg.Value)
-		} else {
-			str = string(msg.Value)
+		switch r.Options.Convert {
+		case "base64":
+			_, convertErr = base64.StdEncoding.Decode(data, msg.Value)
+		case "gzip":
+			data, convertErr = util.Gunzip(msg.Value)
+		default:
+			data = msg.Value
 		}
 
+		if convertErr != nil {
+			if !r.Options.Follow {
+				return errors.Wrap(convertErr, "unable to complete conversion")
+			}
+
+			printer.Error(fmt.Sprintf("unable to complete conversion for message: %s", convertErr))
+			continue
+		}
+
+		str := string(data)
+
 		if r.Options.LineNumbers {
 			str = fmt.Sprintf("%d: ", lineNumber) + str
 			lineNumber++
diff --git a/backends/rabbitmq/read.go b/backends/rabbitmq/read.go
index 5bbb7a61..641ed07a 100644
--- a/backends/rabbitmq/read.go
+++ b/backends/rabbitmq/read.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/batchcorp/plumber/pb"
 	"github.com/batchcorp/plumber/printer"
+	"github.com/batchcorp/plumber/util"
 )
 
 type Reader struct {
@@ -111,14 +112,29 @@ func (r *RabbitMQ) Read() error {
 			msg.Body = decoded
 		}
 
-		var str string
+		var data []byte
+		var convertErr error
 
-		if r.Options.Convert == "base64" {
-			str = base64.StdEncoding.EncodeToString(msg.Body)
-		} else {
-			str = string(msg.Body)
+		switch r.Options.Convert {
+		case "base64":
+			_, convertErr = base64.StdEncoding.Decode(data, msg.Body)
+		case "gzip":
+			data, convertErr = util.Gunzip(msg.Body)
+		default:
+			data = msg.Body
 		}
 
+		if convertErr != nil {
+			if !r.Options.Follow {
+				return errors.Wrap(convertErr, "unable to complete conversion")
+			}
+
+			printer.Error(fmt.Sprintf("unable to complete conversion for message: %s", convertErr))
+			continue
+		}
+
+		str := string(data)
+
 		if r.Options.LineNumbers {
 			str = fmt.Sprintf("%d: ", lineNumber) + str
 			lineNumber++
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index a10c1507..257f1499 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ func setupCLI() *cli.App {
 										Name:  "convert",
 										Usage: "Convert messages received on the bus",
 										Value: &EnumValue{
-											Enum:    []string{"base64"},
+											Enum:    []string{"base64", "gzip"},
 											Default: "",
 										},
 									},
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ func setupCLI() *cli.App {
 										Name:  "convert",
 										Usage: "Convert messages received on the bus",
 										Value: &EnumValue{
-											Enum:    []string{"base64"},
+											Enum:    []string{"base64", "gzip"},
 											Default: "",
 										},
 									},
diff --git a/util/util.go b/util/util.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e674be0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/util/util.go
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+package util
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"compress/gzip"
+	"io"
+
+	"github.com/pkg/errors"
+)
+
+func Gunzip(data []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	b := bytes.NewBuffer(data)
+
+	var r io.Reader
+
+	r, err := gzip.NewReader(b)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unable to create new reader")
+	}
+
+	var resB bytes.Buffer
+
+	if _, err := resB.ReadFrom(r); err != nil {
+		return nil, errors.Wrap(err, "unable to read data from reader")
+	}
+
+	return resB.Bytes(), nil
+}