diff --git a/ext/json/json.c b/ext/json/json.c
index c8f0ed5e93a..13efeb901e3 100644
--- a/ext/json/json.c
+++ b/ext/json/json.c
@@ -142,6 +142,21 @@ static PHP_MINFO_FUNCTION(json)
 }
 /* }}} */
 
+PHP_JSON_API zend_string *php_json_encode_string(const char *s, size_t len, int options)
+{
+	smart_str buf = {0};
+	php_json_encoder encoder;
+
+	php_json_encode_init(&encoder);
+
+	if (php_json_escape_string(&buf, s, len, options, &encoder) == FAILURE) {
+		smart_str_free(&buf);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	return smart_str_extract(&buf);
+}
+
 PHP_JSON_API int php_json_encode_ex(smart_str *buf, zval *val, int options, zend_long depth) /* {{{ */
 {
 	php_json_encoder encoder;
diff --git a/ext/json/json_encoder.c b/ext/json/json_encoder.c
index b0f703041b0..f3523ed3258 100644
--- a/ext/json/json_encoder.c
+++ b/ext/json/json_encoder.c
@@ -31,10 +31,6 @@
 
 static const char digits[] = "0123456789abcdef";
 
-static int php_json_escape_string(
-		smart_str *buf,	const char *s, size_t len,
-		int options, php_json_encoder *encoder);
-
 static int php_json_determine_array_type(zval *val) /* {{{ */
 {
 	zend_array *myht = Z_ARRVAL_P(val);
@@ -312,7 +308,7 @@ static int php_json_encode_array(smart_str *buf, zval *val, int options, php_jso
 }
 /* }}} */
 
-static int php_json_escape_string(
+int php_json_escape_string(
 		smart_str *buf, const char *s, size_t len,
 		int options, php_json_encoder *encoder) /* {{{ */
 {
diff --git a/ext/json/php_json.h b/ext/json/php_json.h
index 89d04ed7f4d..f8905b10cbb 100644
--- a/ext/json/php_json.h
+++ b/ext/json/php_json.h
@@ -97,6 +97,8 @@ PHP_JSON_API ZEND_EXTERN_MODULE_GLOBALS(json)
 ZEND_TSRMLS_CACHE_EXTERN()
 #endif
 
+PHP_JSON_API zend_string *php_json_encode_string(const char *s, size_t len, int options);
+
 PHP_JSON_API int php_json_encode_ex(smart_str *buf, zval *val, int options, zend_long depth);
 PHP_JSON_API int php_json_encode(smart_str *buf, zval *val, int options);
 PHP_JSON_API int php_json_decode_ex(zval *return_value, const char *str, size_t str_len, zend_long options, zend_long depth);
diff --git a/ext/json/php_json_encoder.h b/ext/json/php_json_encoder.h
index 51d2d6b59ab..a1ddd3c349e 100644
--- a/ext/json/php_json_encoder.h
+++ b/ext/json/php_json_encoder.h
@@ -35,4 +35,6 @@ static inline void php_json_encode_init(php_json_encoder *encoder)
 
 int php_json_encode_zval(smart_str *buf, zval *val, int options, php_json_encoder *encoder);
 
+int php_json_escape_string(smart_str *buf, const char *s, size_t len, int options, php_json_encoder *encoder);
+
 #endif	/* PHP_JSON_ENCODER_H */