diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3eee40053..bad795f63 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ CHANGELOG
 ### 2.4.16
 
 * Fix handling of floating-point precision near the aligned case that used to result in error from libphoebe. [#965]
+* Updates to phoebe-server to be compatible with modern browser requirements. [#959]
 
 
 ### 2.4.15
diff --git a/client-server/phoebe-server b/client-server/phoebe-server
index 881092419..d7bab43a8 100644
--- a/client-server/phoebe-server
+++ b/client-server/phoebe-server
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ import subprocess
 from time import sleep
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from datetime import datetime
-from distutils.version import StrictVersion
+from packaging.version import parse
 
 from phoebe.parameters.unit_choices import unit_choices as _unit_choices
 
@@ -502,6 +502,12 @@ def _get_failed_constraints(b):
 
 
 ############################ HTTP ROUTES ######################################
+def _get_request(request):
+    if request.content_type == 'application/json':
+        return request.get_json()
+    else:
+        return request.form
+
 def _get_response(data, status_code=200, api=False, **metawargs):
     d = {}
     d['data'] = data
@@ -509,6 +515,7 @@ def _get_response(data, status_code=200, api=False, **metawargs):
     if api:
         resp = jsonify(d)
         resp.status_code = status_code
+        resp.headers.set('Content-Type', 'application/json') 
         return resp
     else:
         return d
@@ -516,7 +523,7 @@ def _get_response(data, status_code=200, api=False, **metawargs):
 @app.route("/info", methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 @crossdomain(origin='*')
 def info():
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -538,9 +545,9 @@ def info():
 
     client_warning = None
     if client_version is not None:
-        if StrictVersion(client_version) < StrictVersion('1.0.0'):
+        if parse(client_version) < parse('1.0.0'):
             client_warning = 'client still in development'
-        elif StrictVersion(client_version) < StrictVersion('1.1.0'):
+        elif parse(client_version) < parse('1.1.0'):
             client_warning = 'client does not support adding or editing servers'
 
 
@@ -576,7 +583,7 @@ def new_bundle(type):
 
     type: 'binary:detached'
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -625,7 +632,7 @@ def new_bundle(type):
 def open_bundle(type):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     if j is None:
         j = request.form
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None)
@@ -692,7 +699,7 @@ def open_bundle(type):
 def json_bundle(bundleid):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -712,7 +719,7 @@ def json_bundle(bundleid):
 def save_bundle(bundleid):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -738,7 +745,7 @@ def save_bundle(bundleid):
 @app.route('/export_script/<string:bundleid>', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 @crossdomain(origin='*')
 def export_script(bundleid):
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -776,7 +783,7 @@ def export_script(bundleid):
 def export_compute(bundleid, compute, model=None):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -806,7 +813,7 @@ def export_compute(bundleid, compute, model=None):
 def export_solver(bundleid, solver, solution=None):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -835,7 +842,7 @@ def export_solver(bundleid, solver, solution=None):
 def export_params(bundleid, params):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -862,7 +869,7 @@ def export_params(bundleid, params):
 def bundle(bundleid):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -895,7 +902,7 @@ def bundle(bundleid):
 def parameter(bundleid, uniqueid):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -923,7 +930,7 @@ def parameter(bundleid, uniqueid):
 def adjustable_parameters(bundleid):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -945,7 +952,7 @@ def adjustable_parameters(bundleid):
 def run_checks(bundleid, run_checks_method, label):
     """
     """
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -967,7 +974,7 @@ def run_checks(bundleid, run_checks_method, label):
 @app.route('/nparray/<string:input>', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 @crossdomain(origin='*')
 def nparray(input):
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -1010,7 +1017,7 @@ def nparray(input):
 @app.route('/distl/<string:input>/<float:current_face_value>', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 @crossdomain(origin='*')
 def distl_convert(input, current_face_value):
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -1047,7 +1054,7 @@ def distl_convert(input, current_face_value):
 
 @app.route("/<string:bundleid>/figure/<string:figure>", methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def serve_figure(bundleid, figure):
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -1058,7 +1065,7 @@ def serve_figure(bundleid, figure):
 
 @app.route("/<string:bundleid>/figure_afig/<string:figure>", methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def serve_figure_afig(bundleid, figure):
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None
 
@@ -1069,7 +1076,7 @@ def serve_figure_afig(bundleid, figure):
 
 @app.route('/<string:bundleid>/distribution_plot/<string:parameter_uniqueid>/<string:distribution>', methods=['GET', 'POST'])
 def serve_distribution_plot(bundleid, parameter_uniqueid, distribution):
-    j = request.get_json()
+    j = _get_request(request)
     clientid = j.get('clientid', None) if j is not None else None
     client_version = j.get('client_version', None) if j is not None else None