diff --git a/hyraxAbif.cabal b/hyraxAbif.cabal
--- a/hyraxAbif.cabal
+++ b/hyraxAbif.cabal
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 cabal-version:       2.2
 name:                hyraxAbif
-version:             0.2.3.9
+version:             0.2.3.10
 synopsis:            Modules for parsing, generating and manipulating AB1 files.
 homepage:            https://github.com/hyraxbio/hyraxAbif/#readme
 license:             BSD-3-Clause OR Apache-2.0
diff --git a/src/Hyrax/Abif/Read.hs b/src/Hyrax/Abif/Read.hs
--- a/src/Hyrax/Abif/Read.hs
+++ b/src/Hyrax/Abif/Read.hs
@@ -152,8 +152,11 @@
           ElemChar -> -- Array of chars can be treated as a string
             flip B.runGet (dData d) $ lbl $ do
               cs <- readArray B.getWord8
-              let c = BSL.pack cs
-              pure $ d { dDataDebug = [TxtE.decodeUtf8 . BSL.toStrict $ c] }
+              case dTagName d of
+                "PCON" -> pure d { dDataDebug = [show cs] }
+                _ -> do
+                  let c = BSL.pack cs
+                  pure $ d { dDataDebug = [TxtE.decodeUtf8 . BSL.toStrict $ c] }
 
           --ElemShort ->
           --  flip B.runGet (dData d) $ lbl $ do