diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 00e8114..9316b76 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ docker-down:
 # The default CI stays narrower via runtime guards such as requireGatewayURL,
 # requireHTTPBin, and A7_E2E_ENABLE_GATEWAY_GROUP_CRUD.
 test-e2e:
-	go run github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2/ginkgo -r --procs=1 --tags=e2e --timeout=45m ./test/e2e/...
+	go run github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2/ginkgo -r --procs=1 --tags=e2e --timeout=45m -v ./test/e2e/...
 
 test-e2e-full:
-	go run github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2/ginkgo -r --procs=1 --tags=e2e --timeout=45m ./test/e2e/...
+	go run github.com/onsi/ginkgo/v2/ginkgo -r --procs=1 --tags=e2e --timeout=45m -v ./test/e2e/...
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/consumer/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/consumer/create/create.go
index d96b41c..637944c 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/consumer/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/consumer/create/create.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package create
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
 	"strings"
@@ -93,7 +92,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if output == "" {
 			output = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(output, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(output, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 	if opts.Username == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--username is required")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/consumer/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/consumer/update/update.go
index 280e75c..702706d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/consumer/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/consumer/update/update.go
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package update
 
 import (
-	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"net/http"
@@ -88,7 +87,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	body := api.Consumer{
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/credential/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/credential/create/create.go
index a5e9185..78a3e91 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/credential/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/credential/create/create.go
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	httpClient, err := opts.Client()
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/credential/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/credential/update/update.go
index 28d7b90..c492051 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/credential/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/credential/update/update.go
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	pl := make(map[string]interface{})
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/create/create.go
index fc4349d..42c16c9 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/create/create.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func createRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	if opts.Name == "" {
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/update/update.go
index db4eec2..4874497 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/gateway-group/update/update.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func updateRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	labels := map[string]string{}
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/global-rule/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/global-rule/create/create.go
index 7647d06..70bc407 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/global-rule/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/global-rule/create/create.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 	if opts.ID == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--id is required")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/global-rule/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/global-rule/update/update.go
index 26fe719..82ba990 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/global-rule/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/global-rule/update/update.go
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	plugins := make(map[string]interface{})
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/create/create.go
index b1302b2..2132920 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/create/create.go
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 	if opts.PluginName == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--plugin-name is required")
@@ -121,5 +121,5 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 	if format == "" {
 		format = "json"
 	}
-	return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+	return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/update/update.go
index 1bda0ba..d7ee1e1 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/plugin-metadata/update/update.go
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	metadata := map[string]interface{}{}
@@ -98,5 +98,5 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 	if format == "" {
 		format = "json"
 	}
-	return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+	return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/proto/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/proto/create/create.go
index 87e15f9..f0c54bc 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/proto/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/proto/create/create.go
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	httpClient, err := opts.Client()
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/proto/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/proto/update/update.go
index a753573..735f86f 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/proto/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/proto/update/update.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	labels := make(map[string]string)
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/route/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/route/create/create.go
index 6f7944a..b25f24d 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/route/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/route/create/create.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 	if opts.URI == "" && len(opts.Paths) == 0 {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--path or --uri is required")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/route/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/route/update/update.go
index 2079ffb..d02aef8 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/route/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/route/update/update.go
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	labels := make(map[string]string)
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/service/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/service/create/create.go
index 895b1c8..bc0da9e 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/service/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/service/create/create.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 	if opts.Name == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--name is required")
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/service/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/service/update/update.go
index ba79a85..873db2a 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/service/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/service/update/update.go
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 
 	labels := make(map[string]string)
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/ssl/create/create.go b/pkg/cmd/ssl/create/create.go
index 5d133fc..313da43 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/ssl/create/create.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/ssl/create/create.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 func writeSSLResponse(format string, out io.Writer, body []byte) error {
 	var item api.SSL
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &item); err != nil {
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to decode ssl response for safe export: %w", err)
 	}
 	return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, out).Write(api.RedactSSL(item))
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/ssl/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/ssl/update/update.go
index 8e5536c..42a0c66 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/ssl/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/ssl/update/update.go
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 func writeSSLResponse(format string, out io.Writer, body []byte) error {
 	var item api.SSL
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &item); err != nil {
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to decode ssl response for safe export: %w", err)
 	}
 	return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, out).Write(api.RedactSSL(item))
 }
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/stream-route/update/update.go b/pkg/cmd/stream-route/update/update.go
index c1f285e..507a702 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/stream-route/update/update.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/stream-route/update/update.go
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func actionRun(opts *Options) error {
 		if format == "" {
 			format = "json"
 		}
-		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).Write(json.RawMessage(body))
+		return cmdutil.NewExporter(format, opts.IO.Out).WriteAPIResponse(body)
 	}
 	if opts.ServiceID == "" {
 		return fmt.Errorf("--service-id is required for current API7 EE")
diff --git a/pkg/cmdutil/exporter.go b/pkg/cmdutil/exporter.go
index ef05388..9b6d895 100644
--- a/pkg/cmdutil/exporter.go
+++ b/pkg/cmdutil/exporter.go
@@ -35,6 +35,18 @@ func (e *Exporter) Write(data interface{}) error {
 	}
 }
 
+// WriteAPIResponse decodes a JSON API response body and writes it via the
+// exporter. Writing a raw []byte (e.g. json.RawMessage) directly would cause
+// yaml.v3 to emit the bytes as a sequence of integers; decoding first ensures
+// both -o yaml and -o json render a proper object.
+func (e *Exporter) WriteAPIResponse(body []byte) error {
+	var decoded interface{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(body, &decoded); err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("failed to decode response: %w", err)
+	}
+	return e.Write(decoded)
+}
+
 func (e *Exporter) writeJSON(data interface{}) error {
 	enc := json.NewEncoder(e.writer)
 	enc.SetIndent("", "  ")
diff --git a/pkg/cmdutil/exporter_test.go b/pkg/cmdutil/exporter_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..eef8a99
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/cmdutil/exporter_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package cmdutil
+
+import (
+	"bytes"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
+)
+
+func TestExporter_WriteAPIResponse_YAML_DecodesObject(t *testing.T) {
+	// The original bug: writing json.RawMessage([]byte) directly to the YAML
+	// encoder serialized the bytes as a list of integers instead of a map.
+	// WriteAPIResponse must decode first so YAML emits a proper object.
+	body := []byte(`{"id":"r1","name":"demo","status":1}`)
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := NewExporter("yaml", &buf).WriteAPIResponse(body); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteAPIResponse failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	out := buf.String()
+	if strings.HasPrefix(strings.TrimSpace(out), "- ") {
+		t.Fatalf("yaml output looks like a byte sequence, not an object: %q", out)
+	}
+
+	var decoded map[string]interface{}
+	if err := yaml.Unmarshal(buf.Bytes(), &decoded); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("yaml output is not a valid map: %v (output: %q)", err, out)
+	}
+	if decoded["id"] != "r1" || decoded["name"] != "demo" {
+		t.Fatalf("yaml output missing expected fields: got %v", decoded)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExporter_WriteAPIResponse_JSON_RoundTripsObject(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`{"id":"r1","name":"demo"}`)
+
+	var buf bytes.Buffer
+	if err := NewExporter("json", &buf).WriteAPIResponse(body); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("WriteAPIResponse failed: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	var decoded map[string]interface{}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(buf.Bytes(), &decoded); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("json output is not a valid object: %v (output: %q)", err, buf.String())
+	}
+	if decoded["id"] != "r1" || decoded["name"] != "demo" {
+		t.Fatalf("json output missing expected fields: got %v", decoded)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestExporter_WriteAPIResponse_InvalidJSON_ReturnsError(t *testing.T) {
+	body := []byte(`not json`)
+	err := NewExporter("yaml", &bytes.Buffer{}).WriteAPIResponse(body)
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected error decoding invalid JSON")
+	}
+	if !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "failed to decode response") {
+		t.Fatalf("error did not mention decoding: %v", err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/test/e2e/setup_test.go b/test/e2e/setup_test.go
index 43f239e..39ebb69 100644
--- a/test/e2e/setup_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/setup_test.go
@@ -114,6 +114,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Building a7 binary ...")
 	buildCmd := exec.Command("go", "build", "-o", binaryPath, "./cmd/a7")
 	buildCmd.Dir = modRoot
 	buildCmd.Stdout = os.Stdout
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	// Wait for API7 EE Dashboard API to become healthy.
 	// Try the /api/status endpoint first, fall back to /api/gateway_groups.
 	healthURL := adminURL + "/api/gateway_groups"
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Waiting for API7 EE dashboard at "+adminURL+" ...")
 	if err := waitForHealthy(healthURL, 120*time.Second); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "API7 EE not ready: %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
@@ -134,6 +136,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	// API7 EE uses UUID-style ids for runtime API calls. Resolve name -> id.
 	// An explicit name (incl. "default") is honored literally; only an
 	// unset/empty A7_GATEWAY_GROUP falls back to "first non-ingress group".
+	fmt.Fprintln(os.Stderr, "Resolving gateway group ...")
 	wanted := os.Getenv("A7_GATEWAY_GROUP")
 	ggID, err := resolveGatewayGroupID(wanted)
 	if err != nil {