diff --git a/homeassistant/components/matrix/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/matrix/__init__.py
index 84fafd3f068..febafc367f1 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/matrix/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/matrix/__init__.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ from homeassistant.exceptions import HomeAssistantError
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 from homeassistant.helpers.json import save_json
 from homeassistant.helpers.typing import ConfigType
-from homeassistant.util.json import load_json
+from homeassistant.util.json import JsonObjectType, load_json_object
 
 from .const import DOMAIN, FORMAT_HTML, FORMAT_TEXT, SERVICE_SEND_MESSAGE
 
@@ -276,15 +276,13 @@ class MatrixBot:
             except MatrixRequestError as ex:
                 _LOGGER.error("Could not join room %s: %s", room_id, ex)
 
-    def _get_auth_tokens(self):
+    def _get_auth_tokens(self) -> JsonObjectType:
         """Read sorted authentication tokens from disk.
 
         Returns the auth_tokens dictionary.
         """
         try:
-            auth_tokens = load_json(self._session_filepath)
-
-            return auth_tokens
+            return load_json_object(self._session_filepath)
         except HomeAssistantError as ex:
             _LOGGER.warning(
                 "Loading authentication tokens from file '%s' failed: %s",