diff --git a/python/automake.mk b/python/automake.mk
index 5a1e1da8a79..21547f7ba68 100644
--- a/python/automake.mk
+++ b/python/automake.mk
@@ -92,6 +92,17 @@ python-sdist: $(srcdir)/python/ovs/version.py $(ovs_pyfiles) python/ovs/dirs.py
 
 pypi-upload: $(srcdir)/python/ovs/version.py $(ovs_pyfiles) python/ovs/dirs.py
 	(cd python/ && $(PYTHON) setup.py sdist upload)
+
+ALL_LOCAL += python-build
+python-build:$(lib_LTLIBRARIES)
+	(cd $(srcdir)/python/ && $(PYTHON) setup.py build_py -d $(abs_top_builddir)/python && $(PYTHON) setup.py build_ext -b $(abs_top_builddir)/python -I$(abs_top_srcdir)/include:$(abs_top_builddir)/include -L$(abs_top_builddir)/lib/.libs)
+if HAVE_PYTHON3
+	(cd $(srcdir)/python/ && $(PYTHON3) setup.py build_py -d $(abs_top_builddir)/python && $(PYTHON3) setup.py build_ext -b $(abs_top_builddir)/python -I$(abs_top_srcdir)/include:$(abs_top_builddir)/include  -L$(abs_top_builddir)/lib/.libs)
+
+CLEAN_LOCAL += python-clean
+python-clean:
+	rm -rf $(abs_top_builddir)/python
+endif
 else
 ovs-install-data-local:
 	@:
diff --git a/python/ovs/json.py b/python/ovs/json.py
index e84063fc2ed..f06204e447f 100644
--- a/python/ovs/json.py
+++ b/python/ovs/json.py
@@ -21,10 +21,13 @@
 
 import six
 
+PARSER_C = 'C'
+PARSER_PY = 'PYTHON'
 try:
     import ovs._json
+    PARSER = PARSER_C
 except ImportError:
-    pass
+    PARSER = PARSER_PY
 
 __pychecker__ = 'no-stringiter'
 
@@ -91,10 +94,9 @@ class Parser(object):
     MAX_HEIGHT = 1000
 
     def __new__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
-        try:
+        if PARSER == PARSER_C:
             return ovs._json.Parser(*args, **kwargs)
-        except NameError:
-            return super(Parser, cls).__new__(cls)
+        return super(Parser, cls).__new__(cls)
 
     def __init__(self, check_trailer=False):
         self.check_trailer = check_trailer
diff --git a/tests/atlocal.in b/tests/atlocal.in
index abfc1acf36d..3b3af84ee41 100644
--- a/tests/atlocal.in
+++ b/tests/atlocal.in
@@ -22,8 +22,10 @@ if test x"$PYTHON3" = x; then
     export PYTHONCOERCECLOCALE
 fi
 
-PYTHONPATH=$abs_top_srcdir/python:$abs_top_builddir/tests:$PYTHONPATH
+PYTHONPATH=$abs_top_builddir/python:$abs_top_builddir/tests:$PYTHONPATH
 export PYTHONPATH
+LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$abs_top_builddir/lib/.libs
+export LD_LIBRARY_PATH
 
 PYTHONIOENCODING=utf_8
 export PYTHONIOENCODING
diff --git a/tests/json.at b/tests/json.at
index bfe0f1967c4..32a55f7b611 100644
--- a/tests/json.at
+++ b/tests/json.at
@@ -9,15 +9,16 @@ m4_define([JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_C],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 # JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY(TITLE, INPUT, OUTPUT, TEST-JSON-ARGS,
-#                        PYTHON-CHCEK, PYTHON-BIN)
+#                        PYTHON-CHCEK, PYTHON-BIN, JSON-PARSER = python)
 #
 m4_define([JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_KEYWORDS([json positive Python])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $5 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = C && ! $6 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_CHECK([printf %s "AS_ESCAPE([$2])" > input])
    AT_CAPTURE_FILE([input])
-   AT_CHECK([$6 $srcdir/test-json.py $4 input], [0], [stdout], [])
+   AT_CHECK([$6 $srcdir/test-json.py -j m4_default([$7], python) $4 input], [0], [stdout], [])
    AT_CHECK([cat stdout], [0], [$3
 ])
    AT_CLEANUP])
@@ -37,16 +38,17 @@ m4_define([JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_UCS4PY],
 
 m4_define([JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE],
   [JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_C([$1 - C], [$2], [$3], [$4])
-   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4],
-                          [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4],
-                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY23([$1], [$2], [$3], [$4])])
 
 m4_define([JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY23],
-  [JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+  [JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
                           [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4],
-                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+                          [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+   JSON_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 m4_define([JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_C],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
@@ -59,25 +61,30 @@ m4_define([JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_C],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 # JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY(TITLE, INPUT, OUTPUT, TEST-JSON-ARGS,
-#                        PYTHON-CHCEK, PYTHON-BIN)
+#                        PYTHON-CHCEK, PYTHON-BIN, JSON_PARSER = python)
 #
 m4_define([JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY], 
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_KEYWORDS([json negative Python])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $5 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = C && ! $6 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_CHECK([printf %s "AS_ESCAPE([$2])" > input])
    AT_CAPTURE_FILE([input])
-   AT_CHECK([$6 $srcdir/test-json.py $4 input], [1], [stdout], [])
+   AT_CHECK([$6 $srcdir/test-json.py -j m4_default([$7], python) $4 input], [1], [stdout], [])
    AT_CHECK([[sed 's/^error: [^:]*:/error:/' < stdout]], [0], [$3
 ])
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE],
   [JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_C([$1 - C], [$2], [$3], [$4])
-   JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+   JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
                           [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-   JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4],
-                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+   JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+                          [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+   JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+   JSON_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4],
+                          [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 AT_BANNER([JSON -- arrays])
 
diff --git a/tests/ovsdb-idl.at b/tests/ovsdb-idl.at
index 142eee794f2..663822ee906 100644
--- a/tests/ovsdb-idl.at
+++ b/tests/ovsdb-idl.at
@@ -46,11 +46,12 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_C],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest])
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact unix:socket $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -58,19 +59,24 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1 - register_columns])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python register_columns $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest])
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact unix:socket $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket ?simple:b,ba,i,ia,r,ra,s,sa,u,ua?link1:i,k,ka,l2?link2:i,l1?singleton:name $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket ?simple:b,ba,i,ia,r,ra,s,sa,u,ua?link1:i,k,ka,l2?link2:i,l1?singleton:name $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -78,22 +84,27 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_REGISTER_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 # same as OVSDB_CHECK_IDL but uses the Python IDL implementation with tcp
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1 - tcp])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python with tcp socket $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest "ptcp:0:127.0.0.1"])
    PARSE_LISTENING_PORT([ovsdb-server.log], [TCP_PORT])
 
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact tcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema tcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema tcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -101,16 +112,21 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 # same as OVSDB_CHECK_IDL but uses the Python IDL implementation with tcp
 # with multiple remotes with only one remote reachable
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1 - tcp])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python with tcp socket $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest "ptcp:0:127.0.0.1"])
    PARSE_LISTENING_PORT([ovsdb-server.log], [TCP_PORT])
@@ -119,7 +135,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN],
    remote=tcp:127.0.0.1:$WRONG_PORT_1,tcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT,tcp:127.0.0.1:$WRONG_PORT_2
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact tcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema $remote $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema $remote $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -127,10 +143,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python2 (multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python2 (pyjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON], [$PYTHON])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python3 (multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python2 (cjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON], [$PYTHON], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python3 (pyjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python3 (cjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 # same as OVSDB_CHECK_IDL but uses the Python IDL implementation with tcp6
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN],
@@ -138,6 +158,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN],
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test "$IS_WIN32" = "yes"])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $HAVE_IPV6 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python with tcp6 socket $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest "ptcp:0:[[::1]]"])
    PARSE_LISTENING_PORT([ovsdb-server.log], [TCP_PORT])
@@ -145,7 +166,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN],
 
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact "tcp:[[::1]]:$TCP_PORT" $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema tcp:[[::1]]:$TCP_PORT $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema tcp:[[::1]]:$TCP_PORT $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -153,16 +174,21 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1 - tcp6])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test "$IS_WIN32" = "yes"])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $HAVE_IPV6 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python with tcp6 socket $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest "ptcp:0:[[::1]]"])
    PARSE_LISTENING_PORT([ovsdb-server.log], [TCP_PORT])
@@ -171,7 +197,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN],
    remote="tcp:[[::1]]:$WRONG_PORT_1,tcp:[[::1]]:$TCP_PORT,tcp:[[::1]]:$WRONG_PORT_2"
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact "tcp:[[::1]]:$TCP_PORT" $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema $remote $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema $remote $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -179,10 +205,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python2 (multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python2 (pyjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON], [$PYTHON])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python3 (multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python2 (cjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON], [$PYTHON], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python3 (pyjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_TCP6_MULTIPLE_REMOTES_PYN([$1 - Python3 (cjson multiple remotes)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 # same as OVSDB_CHECK_IDL but uses the Python IDL implementation with SSL
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN],
@@ -192,6 +222,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN],
    $8 -c "import OpenSSL.SSL"
    SSL_PRESENT=$?
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $SSL_PRESENT != 0])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python with ssl socket $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb-tool create db $abs_srcdir/idltest.ovsschema],
              [0], [stdout], [ignore])
@@ -210,7 +241,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN],
                 --certificate=$PKIDIR/testpki-cert2.pem \
                 --ca-cert=$PKIDIR/testpki-cacert.pem \
                 transact "ssl:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT" $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema \
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema \
              ssl:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $PKIDIR/testpki-privkey.pem \
              $PKIDIR/testpki-cert.pem $PKIDIR/testpki-cacert.pem $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
@@ -220,10 +251,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PY],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON], [$PYTHON])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON], [$PYTHON], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL],
   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_C($@)
@@ -239,6 +274,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1 ptcp])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python with tcp socket $5])
    # find free TCP port
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest "ptcp:0:127.0.0.1"])
@@ -248,7 +284,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN],
 
    # start OVSDB server in passive mode
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest "tcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT"])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -t10 idl_passive $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema ptcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl_passive $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema ptcp:127.0.0.1:$TCP_PORT $3],
       [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
             [0], [$4])
@@ -257,10 +293,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN],
    ])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PY],
-    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+     OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+     OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+     OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PASSIVE_TCP_PY([simple passive idl, initially empty, select empty],
   [],
@@ -433,11 +473,12 @@ OVSDB_CHECK_IDL([simple idl, writing via IDL with unicode],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $9 = C && ! $8 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python $5])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest])
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact unix:socket $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket $3],
+   AT_CHECK([$8 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$9], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket $3],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    echo "$4" > expout
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$6],,, [[| $6]]),
@@ -446,10 +487,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PY_WITH_EXPOUT],
-   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+   [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
                                     [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
-                                    [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                                    [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                                    [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN_WITH_EXPOUT([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6],
+                                    [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PY_WITH_EXPOUT([simple idl, writing large data via IDL with unicode],
   [['["idltest",
@@ -968,11 +1013,12 @@ AT_CLEANUP
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1 fetch])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $8 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $10 = C && ! $9 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl positive Python increment fetch $6])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest])
    m4_if([$2], [], [],
      [AT_CHECK([ovsdb-client transact unix:socket $2], [0], [ignore], [ignore])])
-   AT_CHECK([$9 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket [$3] $4],
+   AT_CHECK([$9 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$10], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket [$3] $4],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$7],,, [[| $7]]),
             [0], [$5])
@@ -980,10 +1026,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PY],
-    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], [$7],
+    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], [$7],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], [$7],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+     OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], [$7],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], [$7],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], [$7],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS],
    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS_PY($@)])
@@ -1019,10 +1069,11 @@ OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_FETCH_COLUMNS([simple idl, initially populated],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $6 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $8 = C && ! $7 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb server idl Python monitor $4])
    AT_CHECK([ovsdb_start_idltest])
    AT_CHECK([ovs-appctl -t ovsdb-server ovsdb-server/disable-monitor-cond])
-   AT_CHECK([$7 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py  -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket $2],
+   AT_CHECK([$7 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$8], python) -t10 idl $srcdir/idltest.ovsschema unix:socket $2],
             [0], [stdout], [ignore])
    AT_CHECK([sort stdout | uuidfilt]m4_if([$5],,, [[| $5]]),
             [0], [$3])
@@ -1030,10 +1081,14 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PY],
-    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
+    [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
                         [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2])
-    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
-                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])])
+     OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON2], [$PYTHON2], C)
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3])
+    OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND_PYN([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
+                        [$HAVE_PYTHON3], [$PYTHON3], C)])
 
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_WO_MONITOR_COND],
@@ -1356,7 +1411,8 @@ OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PY([partial-set idl],
 ]])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_PYN],
-  [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1], [], [$2], [$3], [notify $4], [$5], [$6], [$7])])
+  [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1(pyjson)], [], [$2], [$3], [notify $4], [$5], [$6], [$7])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_PYN([$1(cjson)], [], [$2], [$3], [notify $4], [$5], [$6], [$7], C)])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_PY],
     [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
@@ -1366,7 +1422,8 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_PY],
 
 # This test uses the Python IDL implementation with ssl
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_SSL_PYN],
-  [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1], [], [$2], [$3], [notify $4], [$5], [$6], [$7])])
+  [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1(pyjson)], [], [$2], [$3], [notify $4], [$5], [$6], [$7])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_SSL_PYN([$1(cjson)], [], [$2], [$3], [notify $4], [$5], [$6], [$7], C)])
 
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_SSL_PY],
     [OVSDB_CHECK_IDL_NOTIFY_SSL_PYN([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5],
diff --git a/tests/ovsdb.at b/tests/ovsdb.at
index 0c9856d016c..fab79def4c7 100644
--- a/tests/ovsdb.at
+++ b/tests/ovsdb.at
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE],
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 # OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ],
-#                         [PY-CHECK])
+#                         [PY-CHECK] [JSON-PARSER = python])
 #
 # Runs "test-ovsdb.py TEST-OVSDB-ARGS" and checks that it exits with
 # status 0 and prints OUTPUT on stdout.
@@ -24,14 +24,15 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY], 
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $HAVE_PYTHON2 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $7 = C && ! $PYTHON2 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    $6
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb positive Python $4])
-   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON2 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py $2], [0], [$3
+   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON2 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$7], python) $2], [0], [$3
 ], [])
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
 # OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY3(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ],
-#                          [PY-CHECK])
+#                          [PY-CHECK] [PY3-CHECK] [JSON-PARSER = python])
 #
 # Runs "test-ovsdb.py TEST-OVSDB-ARGS" and checks that it exits with
 # status 0 and prints OUTPUT on stdout.
@@ -43,9 +44,10 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY3],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $HAVE_PYTHON3 = no])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $8 = C && ! $PYTHON3 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
    $6
    AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb positive Python $4])
-   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON3 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py $2], [0], [$3
+   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON3 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$8], python) $2], [0], [$3
 ], [])
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
@@ -55,8 +57,10 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY3],
 # Runs identical C and Python tests, as specified.
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_CPY],
   [OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE([$1 - C], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5])
-   OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6])
-   OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY3([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$7])])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$6], C)
+   OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY3([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$7])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_POSITIVE_PY3([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], [$7], C)])
 
 # OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ])
 #
@@ -78,7 +82,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE],
             [0], [ignore], [ignore])
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
-# OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ])
+# OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ] [JSON-PARSER = python])
 #
 # Runs "test-ovsdb TEST-OVSDB-ARGS" and checks that it exits with
 # status 1 and that its output on stdout contains substring OUTPUT.
@@ -86,8 +90,9 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $HAVE_PYTHON2 = no])
-   AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb negative $4])
-   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON2 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py $2], [1], [], [stderr])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $6 = C && ! $PYTHON2 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
+   AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb negative Python $4])
+   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON2 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$6], python) $2], [1], [], [stderr])
    m4_assert(m4_len([$3]))
    AT_CHECK(
      [if grep -F -e "AS_ESCAPE([$3])" stderr
@@ -99,7 +104,7 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY],
             [0], [ignore], [ignore])
    AT_CLEANUP])
 
-# OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY3(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ])
+# OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY3(TITLE, TEST-OVSDB-ARGS, OUTPUT, [KEYWORDS], [PREREQ], [JSON-PARSER = python])
 #
 # Runs "test-ovsdb TEST-OVSDB-ARGS" and checks that it exits with
 # status 1 and that its output on stdout contains substring OUTPUT.
@@ -107,8 +112,9 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY],
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY],
   [AT_SETUP([$1])
    AT_SKIP_IF([test $HAVE_PYTHON3 = no])
-   AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb negative $4])
-   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON3 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py $2], [1], [], [stderr])
+   AT_SKIP_IF([test $6 = C && ! $PYTHON3 -c "import ovs._json" 2>/dev/null])
+   AT_KEYWORDS([ovsdb negative Python $4])
+   AT_CHECK([$PYTHON3 $srcdir/test-ovsdb.py -j m4_default([$6], python) $2], [1], [], [stderr])
    m4_assert(m4_len([$3]))
    AT_CHECK(
      [if grep -F -e "AS_ESCAPE([$3])" stderr
@@ -126,8 +132,10 @@ m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY],
 # Runs identical C and Python tests, as specified.
 m4_define([OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_CPY],
   [OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE([$1 - C], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5])
-   OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python2], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5])
-   OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY3([$1 - Python3], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5])])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY([$1 - Python2(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], C)
+   OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY3([$1 - Python3(pyjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5])
+   OVSDB_CHECK_NEGATIVE_PY3([$1 - Python3(cjson)], [$2], [$3], [$4], [$5], C)])
 
 OVS_START_SHELL_HELPERS
 ovsdb_client_wait() {
diff --git a/tests/test-json.py b/tests/test-json.py
index 582aa720a54..d0db43331b0 100644
--- a/tests/test-json.py
+++ b/tests/test-json.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 import getopt
 import sys
 
+from ovs.db import error
 import ovs.json
 
 import six
@@ -66,15 +67,26 @@ def main(argv):
         sys.stderr = codecs.getwriter("utf-8")(sys.stderr)
 
     try:
-        options, args = getopt.gnu_getopt(argv[1:], '', ['multiple'])
+        options, args = getopt.gnu_getopt(argv[1:], 'j:',
+                                          ['multiple', 'json-parser'])
     except getopt.GetoptError as geo:
         sys.stderr.write("%s: %s\n" % (argv0, geo.msg))
         sys.exit(1)
 
     multiple = False
+    ORIG_PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER
+    ovs.json.PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER_PY
     for key, value in options:
         if key == '--multiple':
             multiple = True
+        elif key in ('-j', '--json-parser'):
+            if value == "python":
+                ovs.json.PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER_PY
+            elif value in ('C', 'c'):
+                if ORIG_PARSER != ovs.json.PARSER_C:
+                    raise error.Error("C parser selected, but not compiled")
+                else:
+                    ovs.json.PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER_C
         else:
             sys.stderr.write("%s: unhandled option %s\n" % (argv0, key))
             sys.exit(1)
diff --git a/tests/test-ovsdb.py b/tests/test-ovsdb.py
index 14491a2e911..b99109dc2a1 100644
--- a/tests/test-ovsdb.py
+++ b/tests/test-ovsdb.py
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 import ovs.db.idl
 import ovs.db.schema
 import ovs.db.types
+import ovs.json
 import ovs.ovsuuid
 import ovs.poller
 import ovs.stream
@@ -815,14 +816,20 @@ def usage():
 
 def main(argv):
     try:
-        options, args = getopt.gnu_getopt(argv[1:], 't:h',
+        options, args = getopt.gnu_getopt(argv[1:], 't:h:j:',
                                           ['timeout',
-                                           'help'])
+                                           'help', 'json-parser'])
     except getopt.GetoptError as geo:
         sys.stderr.write("%s: %s\n" % (ovs.util.PROGRAM_NAME, geo.msg))
         sys.exit(1)
 
     timeout = None
+    # Save the old version to detect whether we support the C Parser
+    # but then override to the Python parser because it is always available
+    # and is the historical default
+    ORIG_PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER
+    ovs.json.PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER_PY
+
     for key, value in options:
         if key in ['-h', '--help']:
             usage()
@@ -834,6 +841,17 @@ def main(argv):
             except TypeError:
                 raise error.Error("value %s on -t or --timeout is not at "
                                   "least 1" % value)
+        elif key in ['-j', '--json-parser']:
+            if value == "python":
+                ovs.json.PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER_PY
+            elif value in ('C', 'c'):
+                if ORIG_PARSER != ovs.json.PARSER_C:
+                    raise error.Error("C parser selected, but not compiled")
+                else:
+                    ovs.json.PARSER = ovs.json.PARSER_C
+            else:
+                raise error.Error(
+                    "invalid option: %s, json-parser must be 'C' or json")
         else:
             sys.exit(0)