diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index 67dda37..b1f724a 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -341,6 +341,12 @@ version = "0.21.7"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9d297deb1925b89f2ccc13d7635fa0714f12c87adce1c75356b39ca9b7178567"
 
+[[package]]
+name = "base64"
+version = "0.22.0"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "9475866fec1451be56a3c2400fd081ff546538961565ccb5b7142cbd22bc7a51"
+
 [[package]]
 name = "base64ct"
 version = "1.6.0"
@@ -1834,6 +1840,7 @@ version = "0.2.0"
 dependencies = [
  "aes-gcm",
  "anyhow",
+ "base64 0.22.0",
  "card-backend",
  "card-backend-pcsc",
  "hkdf",
@@ -2886,7 +2893,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "aes",
  "aes-gcm",
  "anyhow",
- "base64",
+ "base64 0.21.7",
  "block-padding",
  "blowfish",
  "buffered-reader",
diff --git a/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml b/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml
index 8066277..4d0737f 100644
--- a/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/keyfork-shard/Cargo.toml
@@ -37,3 +37,4 @@ card-backend-pcsc = { version = "0.5.0", optional = true }
 openpgp-card-sequoia = { version = "0.2.0", optional = true, default-features = false }
 openpgp-card = { version = "0.4.0", optional = true }
 sequoia-openpgp = { version = "1.17.0", optional = true, default-features = false }
+base64 = "0.22.0"
diff --git a/crates/keyfork-shard/src/lib.rs b/crates/keyfork-shard/src/lib.rs
index e81c57a..cb5c669 100644
--- a/crates/keyfork-shard/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/keyfork-shard/src/lib.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ use keyfork_prompt::{
 use sha2::Sha256;
 use sharks::{Share, Sharks};
 use x25519_dalek::{EphemeralSecret, PublicKey};
+use base64::prelude::{BASE64_STANDARD, Engine};
 
 // 32-byte share, 1-byte index, 1-byte threshold, 1-byte version == 36 bytes
 // Encrypted, is 52 bytes
@@ -208,10 +209,10 @@ pub trait Format {
                 .lock()
                 .expect(bug!(POISONED_MUTEX))
                 .prompt_message(PromptMessage::Text(QRCODE_PROMPT.to_string()))?;
-            if let Ok(Some(hex)) =
+            if let Ok(Some(qrcode_content)) =
                 keyfork_qrcode::scan_camera(std::time::Duration::from_secs(30), 0)
             {
-                let decoded_data = smex::decode(hex)?;
+                let decoded_data = BASE64_STANDARD.decode(qrcode_content).unwrap();
                 pubkey_data = Some(decoded_data.try_into().map_err(|_| InvalidData)?)
             } else {
                 prompt
@@ -299,7 +300,7 @@ pub trait Format {
             use keyfork_qrcode::{qrencode, ErrorCorrection};
             let mut qrcode_data = our_pubkey_mnemonic.to_bytes();
             qrcode_data.extend(payload_mnemonic.as_bytes());
-            if let Ok(qrcode) = qrencode(&smex::encode(&qrcode_data), ErrorCorrection::Highest) {
+            if let Ok(qrcode) = qrencode(&BASE64_STANDARD.encode(qrcode_data), ErrorCorrection::Highest) {
                 prompt
                     .lock()
                     .expect(bug!(POISONED_MUTEX))
@@ -432,7 +433,7 @@ pub fn remote_decrypt(w: &mut impl Write) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Erro
         {
             use keyfork_qrcode::{qrencode, ErrorCorrection};
             let qrcode_data = key_mnemonic.to_bytes();
-            if let Ok(qrcode) = qrencode(&smex::encode(&qrcode_data), ErrorCorrection::Highest) {
+            if let Ok(qrcode) = qrencode(&BASE64_STANDARD.encode(qrcode_data), ErrorCorrection::Highest) {
                 pm.prompt_message(PromptMessage::Text(format!(
                     concat!(
                         "A QR code will be displayed after this prompt. ",
@@ -460,10 +461,10 @@ pub fn remote_decrypt(w: &mut impl Write) -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Erro
         #[cfg(feature = "qrcode")]
         {
             pm.prompt_message(PromptMessage::Text(QRCODE_PROMPT.to_string()))?;
-            if let Ok(Some(hex)) =
+            if let Ok(Some(qrcode_content)) =
                 keyfork_qrcode::scan_camera(std::time::Duration::from_secs(QRCODE_TIMEOUT), 0)
             {
-                let decoded_data = smex::decode(hex)?;
+                let decoded_data = BASE64_STANDARD.decode(qrcode_content).unwrap();
                 let _ = pubkey_data.insert(decoded_data[..32].try_into().map_err(|_| InvalidData)?);
                 let _ = payload_data.insert(decoded_data[32..].to_vec());
             } else {