diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7dd0b01..5c112f0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@
 [![Build Status](https://img.shields.io/github/actions/workflow/status/opgginc/codezero-laravel-localized-routes/run-tests.yml?style=flat-square&logo=github&logoColor=white&label=tests)](https://github.com/opgginc/codezero-laravel-localized-routes/actions)
 [![Total Downloads](https://img.shields.io/packagist/dt/opgginc/codezero-laravel-localized-routes.svg?style=flat-square)](https://packagist.org/packages/opgginc/codezero-laravel-localized-routes)
 
-[![ko-fi](https://www.ko-fi.com/img/githubbutton_sm.svg)](https://ko-fi.com/R6R3UQ8V)
-
 A convenient way to set up and use localized routes in a Laravel app.
 
 ## Important Note
diff --git a/config/localized-routes.php b/config/localized-routes.php
index 2dd9718..3560741 100644
--- a/config/localized-routes.php
+++ b/config/localized-routes.php
@@ -71,6 +71,11 @@
      */
     'cookie_minutes' => 60 * 24 * 365, // 1 year
 
+    /**
+     * Check raw cookie with $_COOKIE due to the default encryption by Laravel.
+     */
+    'check_raw_cookie' => false,
+
     /**
      * The detectors to use to find a matching locale.
      * These will be executed in the order that they are added to the array!
diff --git a/src/Middleware/Detectors/CookieDetector.php b/src/Middleware/Detectors/CookieDetector.php
index 043ffdd..b0b2500 100644
--- a/src/Middleware/Detectors/CookieDetector.php
+++ b/src/Middleware/Detectors/CookieDetector.php
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ class CookieDetector implements Detector
     public function detect()
     {
         $key = Config::get('localized-routes.cookie_name');
-
-        return Cookie::get($key);
+        if (Config::get('localized-routes.check_raw_cookie')) {
+            return $_COOKIE[$key] ?? null;
+        } else {
+            return Cookie::get($key);
+        }
     }
 }