diff --git a/src/storage/Serializer.h b/src/storage/Serializer.h
index 8b5643bf1e..939b06b0be 100644
--- a/src/storage/Serializer.h
+++ b/src/storage/Serializer.h
@@ -36,8 +36,6 @@ public:
 
 protected:
     Serializer(std::string name) : name(std::move(name)) {}
-
-private:
     std::string name;
 };
 
diff --git a/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.cc b/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.cc
index a639112524..ecc4296e37 100644
--- a/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.cc
+++ b/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.cc
@@ -6,24 +6,39 @@
 
 namespace zeek::storage::serializer::json {
 
+std::string JSON::versioned_name = "JSONv1";
+
 std::unique_ptr<Serializer> JSON::Instantiate() { return std::make_unique<JSON>(); }
 
 JSON::JSON() : Serializer("JSON") {}
 
 std::optional<byte_buffer> JSON::Serialize(ValPtr val) {
+    static auto byte_converter = [](u_char c) { return std::byte(c); };
+
     byte_buffer buf;
     auto json = val->ToJSON();
-    buf.reserve(json->Len());
+    buf.reserve(json->Len() + versioned_name.size() + 1);
 
-    std::transform(json->Bytes(), json->Bytes() + json->Len(), std::back_inserter(buf),
-                   [](u_char c) { return std::byte(c); });
+    std::transform(versioned_name.begin(), versioned_name.end(), std::back_inserter(buf), byte_converter);
+    buf.push_back(static_cast<std::byte>(';'));
+    std::transform(json->Bytes(), json->Bytes() + json->Len(), std::back_inserter(buf), byte_converter);
 
     return buf;
 }
 
 zeek::expected<ValPtr, std::string> JSON::Unserialize(byte_buffer_span buf, TypePtr type) {
     std::string_view text{reinterpret_cast<std::string::const_pointer>(buf.data()), buf.size()};
-    return zeek::detail::ValFromJSON(text, type, Func::nil);
+
+    auto semicolon = text.find(';');
+    if ( semicolon == std::string::npos )
+        return zeek::unexpected<std::string>("Version string missing");
+
+    std::string_view version = std::string_view(text).substr(0, semicolon);
+    if ( version != versioned_name )
+        return zeek::unexpected<std::string>(
+            util::fmt("Version doesn't match: %s vs %s", version.data(), versioned_name.c_str()));
+
+    return zeek::detail::ValFromJSON(text.substr(semicolon + 1), type, Func::nil);
 }
 
 } // namespace zeek::storage::serializer::json
diff --git a/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.h b/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.h
index c9789d6b9f..d31d25acd5 100644
--- a/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.h
+++ b/src/storage/serializer/json/JSON.h
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ public:
 
     std::optional<byte_buffer> Serialize(ValPtr val) override;
     zeek::expected<ValPtr, std::string> Unserialize(byte_buffer_span buf, TypePtr type) override;
+
+private:
+    static std::string versioned_name;
 };
 
 } // namespace zeek::storage::serializer::json