diff --git a/tests/e2e/e2e_exec_test.go b/tests/e2e/e2e_exec_test.go
index 4f16db42d88..c85c11d42e4 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/e2e_exec_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/e2e_exec_test.go
@@ -617,7 +617,7 @@ func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) executeGaiaTxCommand(ctx context.Context, c *chai
 	}
 }
 
-func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) executeHermesCommand(ctx context.Context, hermesCmd []string) (string, string) {
+func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) executeHermesCommand(ctx context.Context, hermesCmd []string) ([]byte, []byte) {
 	var (
 		outBuf bytes.Buffer
 		errBuf bytes.Buffer
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) executeHermesCommand(ctx context.Context, hermesC
 	stdOut := outBuf.Bytes()
 	stdErr := errBuf.Bytes()
 
-	return string(stdOut), string(stdErr)
+	return stdOut, stdErr
 }
 
 func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) expectErrExecValidation(chain *chain, valIdx int, expectErr bool) func([]byte, []byte) bool {
diff --git a/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_test.go b/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_test.go
index 76a5bd7d406..be6a1d2c3fc 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_test.go
+++ b/tests/e2e/e2e_ibc_test.go
@@ -76,14 +76,14 @@ func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) hermesTransfer(configPath, srcChainID, dstChainID
 	}
 
 	stdout, stderr := s.executeHermesCommand(ctx, hermesCmd)
-	if strings.Contains(stdout, "ERROR") || strings.Contains(stderr, "ERROR") {
+	if strings.Contains(string(stdout), "ERROR") || strings.Contains(string(stderr), "ERROR") {
 		return false
 	}
 
 	return true
 }
 
-func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) hermesClearPacket(configPath, chainID, channelID string) bool { //nolint:unparam
+func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) hermesClearPacket(configPath, chainID, channelID string) (success bool) { //nolint:unparam
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 
@@ -98,18 +98,31 @@ func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) hermesClearPacket(configPath, chainID, channelID
 	}
 
 	stdout, stderr := s.executeHermesCommand(ctx, hermesCmd)
-	if strings.Contains(stdout, "ERROR") || strings.Contains(stderr, "ERROR") {
+	if strings.Contains(string(stdout), "ERROR") || strings.Contains(string(stderr), "ERROR") {
 		return false
 	}
 
 	return true
 }
 
+type RelayerPacketsOutput struct {
+	Result struct {
+		Dst struct {
+			UnreceivedPackets []interface{} `json:"unreceived_packets"`
+		} `json:"dst"`
+		Src struct {
+			UnreceivedPackets []interface{} `json:"unreceived_packets"`
+		} `json:"src"`
+	} `json:"result"`
+	Status string `json:"status"`
+}
+
 func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) hermesPendingPackets(configPath, chainID, channelID string) (pendingPackets bool) {
 	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), time.Minute)
 	defer cancel()
 	hermesCmd := []string{
 		hermesBinary,
+		"--json",
 		fmt.Sprintf("--config=%s", configPath),
 		"query",
 		"packet",
@@ -120,11 +133,13 @@ func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) hermesPendingPackets(configPath, chainID, channel
 	}
 
 	stdout, _ := s.executeHermesCommand(ctx, hermesCmd)
-	stdout = strings.ReplaceAll(stdout, " ", "")
-	stdout = strings.ReplaceAll(stdout, "\n", "")
+
+	var relayerPacketsOutput RelayerPacketsOutput
+	err := json.Unmarshal(stdout, &relayerPacketsOutput)
+	s.Require().NoError(err)
 
 	// Check if "unreceived_packets" exists in "src"
-	return !strings.Contains(stdout, "src:pendingPackets{unreceived_packets:[]")
+	return len(relayerPacketsOutput.Result.Src.UnreceivedPackets) != 0
 }
 
 func (s *IntegrationTestSuite) queryRelayerWalletsBalances() (sdk.Coin, sdk.Coin) {