diff --git a/inc/JSON.php b/inc/JSON.php
index b31340f448..012697eb3b 100644
--- a/inc/JSON.php
+++ b/inc/JSON.php
@@ -136,7 +136,9 @@ function JSON($use=JSON_STRICT_TYPE) {
      * @access   public
      */
     function encode($var) {
-        if (function_exists('json_encode')) return json_encode($var);
+        if (!$this->skipnative && function_exists('json_encode')){
+            return json_encode($var);
+        }
         switch (gettype($var)) {
             case 'boolean':
                 return $var ? 'true' : 'false';