diff --git a/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc
index 472023e0f8..e1a5713461 100644
--- a/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc
+++ b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.cc
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 using namespace threading::formatter;
 
-JSON::JSON(MsgThread* t, TimeFormat tf) : Formatter(t)
+JSON::JSON(MsgThread* t, TimeFormat tf) : Formatter(t), surrounding_braces(true)
 	{
 	timestamps = tf;
 	}
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ JSON::~JSON()
 bool JSON::Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const Field* const * fields,
                     Value** vals) const
 	{
-	desc->AddRaw("{");
+	if ( surrounding_braces )
+		desc->AddRaw("{");
 
 	for ( int i = 0; i < num_fields; i++ )
 		{
@@ -41,7 +42,8 @@ bool JSON::Describe(ODesc* desc, int num_fields, const Field* const * fields,
 			return false;
 		}
 
-	desc->AddRaw("}");
+	if ( surrounding_braces )
+		desc->AddRaw("}");
 
 	return true;
 	}
@@ -217,3 +219,8 @@ threading::Value* JSON::ParseValue(const string& s, const string& name, TypeTag
 	GetThread()->Error("JSON formatter does not support parsing yet.");
 	return NULL;
 	}
+
+void JSON::SurroundingBraces(bool use_braces)
+	{
+	surrounding_braces = use_braces;
+	}
diff --git a/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h
index d7859f83fb..04209fbde9 100644
--- a/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h
+++ b/src/threading/formatters/JSON.h
@@ -27,8 +27,11 @@ public:
 	                      threading::Value** vals) const;
 	virtual threading::Value* ParseValue(const string& s, const string& name, TypeTag type, TypeTag subtype = TYPE_ERROR) const;
 
+	void SurroundingBraces(bool use_braces);
+
 private:
 	TimeFormat timestamps;
+	bool surrounding_braces;
 };
 
 }}