diff --git a/lib/src/jwt.dart b/lib/src/jwt.dart
index b8b937e..183f6ec 100644
--- a/lib/src/jwt.dart
+++ b/lib/src/jwt.dart
@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ class JWT {
   /// value is a timestamp (number of seconds since epoch) in UTC if
   /// [issueAtUtc] is true, it is compared to the value of the 'iat' claim.
   /// Verification fails if the 'iat' claim is before [issueAt].
+  ///
+  /// If the embedded `payload` is not a JSON map (but rather just a plain string),
+  /// none of the verifications are executed. In that case only the signature is verified.
   static JWT verify(
     String token,
     JWTKey key, {
@@ -35,6 +38,13 @@ class JWT {
   }) {
     try {
       final parts = token.split('.');
+
+      if (parts.length != 3) {
+        throw JWTInvalidException(
+          'token does not use JWS Compact Serialization',
+        );
+      }
+
       final header = jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[0]));
 
       if (header == null || header is! Map<String, dynamic>) {
@@ -54,10 +64,11 @@ class JWT {
         throw JWTInvalidException('invalid signature');
       }
 
-      dynamic payload;
+      Object payload;
 
       try {
-        payload = jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[1]));
+        payload =
+            jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[1])) as Map<String, dynamic>;
       } catch (ex) {
         payload = utf8.decode(base64Url.decode(base64Padded(parts[1])));
       }
@@ -194,18 +205,15 @@ class JWT {
   ///
   /// This also sets [JWT.audience], [JWT.subject], [JWT.issuer], and
   /// [JWT.jwtId] even though they are not verified. Use with caution.
+  ///
+  /// This methods only supports map payloads. For `String` payloads use `verify`.
   static JWT decode(String token) {
     try {
       final parts = token.split('.');
-      var header = jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[0]));
-
-      dynamic payload;
+      final header = jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[0]));
 
-      try {
-        payload = jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[1]));
-      } catch (ex) {
-        payload = utf8.decode(base64Url.decode(base64Padded(parts[1])));
-      }
+      final payload =
+          (jsonBase64.decode(base64Padded(parts[1])) as Map<String, dynamic>);
 
       final audiance = _parseAud(payload['aud']);
       final issuer = payload['iss']?.toString();
@@ -240,16 +248,36 @@ class JWT {
 
   /// JSON Web Token
   JWT(
-    this.payload, {
+    Object payload, {
     this.audience,
     this.subject,
     this.issuer,
     this.jwtId,
     this.header,
-  });
+  }) {
+    this.payload = payload;
+  }
+
+  late Object _payload;
 
-  /// Custom claims
-  dynamic payload;
+  /// The token's payload, either as a `Map<String, dynamic>` or plain `String`
+  /// (in case it was not a JSON-encoded map).
+  ///
+  /// If it's a map, it has all claims, containing the utilized registered claims
+  /// as well custom ones added.
+  Object get payload => _payload;
+
+  void set payload(Object value) {
+    if (value is String) {
+      _payload = value;
+    } else if (value is Map) {
+      _payload = Map<String, dynamic>.from(value);
+    } else {
+      throw Exception(
+        'Unexpected `payload` type `${value.runtimeType}`, must be either `String` or `Map<String, *>`',
+      );
+    }
+  }
 
   /// Audience claim
   Audience? audience;
@@ -281,7 +309,8 @@ class JWT {
     bool noIssueAt = false,
   }) {
     try {
-      if (payload is Map<String, dynamic> || payload is Map<dynamic, dynamic>) {
+      var payload = this.payload;
+      if (payload is Map<String, dynamic>) {
         try {
           payload = Map<String, dynamic>.from(payload);
 
diff --git a/test/create_test.dart b/test/create_test.dart
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5ad2538
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/create_test.dart
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+import 'package:dart_jsonwebtoken/dart_jsonwebtoken.dart';
+import 'package:test/test.dart';
+
+void main() {
+  group('Create a JWT', () {
+    group('Payload', () {
+      group('Map<String, String>', () {
+        test('Works as a payload, but gets converted', () {
+          final payload = <String, String>{
+            'foo': 'bar',
+          };
+
+          final jwt = JWT(payload);
+
+          expect(jwt.payload, isA<Map<String, dynamic>>());
+          expect(jwt.payload, payload);
+        });
+      });
+
+      group('Map<String, dynamic>', () {
+        test('Works as a payload', () {
+          final payload = <String, dynamic>{
+            'foo': 'bar',
+            'iat': 1234,
+          };
+
+          final jwt = JWT(payload);
+
+          expect(jwt.payload, isA<Map<String, dynamic>>());
+          expect(jwt.payload, payload);
+        });
+
+        test('Gets copied internally', () {
+          final payload = <String, dynamic>{
+            'foo': 'bar',
+            'iat': 1234,
+          };
+
+          final jwt = JWT(payload);
+
+          expect(jwt.payload, isA<Map<String, dynamic>>());
+          expect(jwt.payload, payload);
+          expect(identical(jwt.payload, payload), isFalse);
+
+          payload['new_key'] = true;
+
+          expect(jwt.payload, hasLength(2));
+        });
+      });
+
+      group('Map<int, dynamic>', () {
+        test('Does not work as a payload', () {
+          final payload = <int, dynamic>{
+            123: 'bar',
+          };
+
+          expect(
+            () => JWT(payload),
+            throwsA(isA<TypeError>()),
+          );
+        });
+      });
+
+      group('String', () {
+        test('Works as a payload', () {
+          final payload = 'asdf123';
+
+          final jwt = JWT(payload);
+
+          expect(jwt.payload, payload);
+        });
+      });
+
+      group('int', () {
+        test('Does not work as a payload', () {
+          final payload = 1234;
+
+          expect(
+            () => JWT(payload),
+            throwsA(isA<Exception>()),
+          );
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
+}