diff --git a/ext/json/json.c b/ext/json/json.c
index 99e80fa913d..1b7de735d9b 100644
--- a/ext/json/json.c
+++ b/ext/json/json.c
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ static void json_encode_array(smart_str *buf, zval **val TSRMLS_DC) {
     }
 
     if (myht && myht->nApplyCount > 1) {
-        php_error_docref(NULL TSRMLS_CC, E_RECOVERABLE_ERROR, "recursion detected");
+        php_error_docref(NULL TSRMLS_CC, E_WARNING, "recursion detected");
+        smart_str_appendl(buf, "null", 4);
         return;
     }
 
diff --git a/ext/json/tests/003.phpt b/ext/json/tests/003.phpt
index bb5619d9dd9..6ae92bbebd1 100644
--- a/ext/json/tests/003.phpt
+++ b/ext/json/tests/003.phpt
@@ -25,4 +25,6 @@ array(1) {
   }
 }
 
-Catchable fatal error: json_encode(): recursion detected in %s on line %d
+Warning: json_encode(): recursion detected in %s on line %d
+string(8) "[[null]]"
+Done
diff --git a/ext/json/tests/004.phpt b/ext/json/tests/004.phpt
index 21777ba2a16..884d8742054 100644
--- a/ext/json/tests/004.phpt
+++ b/ext/json/tests/004.phpt
@@ -22,4 +22,6 @@ object(stdClass)#%d (1) {
   }
 }
 
-Catchable fatal error: json_encode(): recursion detected in %s on line %d
+Warning: json_encode(): recursion detected in %s on line %d
+string(22) "{"prop":{"prop":null}}"
+Done
diff --git a/ext/json/tests/005.phpt b/ext/json/tests/005.phpt
index b11168702c5..f6a8977d184 100644
--- a/ext/json/tests/005.phpt
+++ b/ext/json/tests/005.phpt
@@ -22,4 +22,6 @@ array(1) {
   }
 }
 
-Catchable fatal error: json_encode(): recursion detected in %s on line %d
+Warning: json_encode(): recursion detected in %s on line %d
+string(8) "[[null]]"
+Done