diff --git a/mcstatus/pinger.py b/mcstatus/pinger.py
index 818ad56..58b362d 100644
--- a/mcstatus/pinger.py
+++ b/mcstatus/pinger.py
@@ -139,8 +139,20 @@ def __init__(self, raw):
 
         if "description" not in raw:
             raise ValueError("Invalid status object (no 'description' value)")
-        self.description = raw["description"]
-        self.description_clean = re.sub(r'\u00A7.', '', raw["description"])
+        # for newer versions of minecraft
+
+        if isinstance(raw["description"], string_types):
+            self.description = raw["description"]
+            self.description_clean = re.sub(r'\u00A7.', '', raw["description"])
+
+        elif isinstance(raw["description"], dict):
+            self.description = raw["description"]["text"]
+            self.description_clean = re.sub(r'\u00A7.', '',
+                                            raw["description"]["text"])
+
+        else:
+            raise ValueError("Invalid status object "
+                             "(unknown 'description' type)")
 
         if "favicon" in raw:
             self.favicon = raw["favicon"]