diff --git a/src/grib_dumper_class_json.c b/src/grib_dumper_class_json.c
index 22baf3b19..134f5d4e5 100644
--- a/src/grib_dumper_class_json.c
+++ b/src/grib_dumper_class_json.c
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
    IMPLEMENTS = init;destroy
    MEMBERS = long section_offset
    MEMBERS = long begin
+   MEMBERS = long empty
    MEMBERS = long end
    END_CLASS_DEF
 
@@ -56,6 +57,7 @@ typedef struct grib_dumper_json {
 /* Members defined in json */
 	long section_offset;
 	long begin;
+	long empty;
 	long end;
 } grib_dumper_json;
 
@@ -99,6 +101,7 @@ static int  init(grib_dumper* d)
 {
     grib_dumper_json *self = (grib_dumper_json*)d;
     self->section_offset=0;
+    self->empty=1;
 
     return GRIB_SUCCESS;
 }
@@ -139,9 +142,11 @@ static void dump_values(grib_dumper* d,grib_accessor* a)
         size = 3;
     } else more=0;
 
-    if (!self->begin) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
+    if (self->begin==0 && self->empty==0 ) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
     else self->begin=0;
 
+    self->empty=0;
+
     err = grib_set_double(a->parent->h, "missingValue", missing_value);
     if (size>1) {
         int cols=4;
@@ -209,9 +214,11 @@ static void dump_long(grib_dumper* d,grib_accessor* a,const char* comment)
         size = 3;
     } else more=0;
 
-    if (!self->begin) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
+    if (self->begin==0 && self->empty==0) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
     else self->begin=0;
 
+    self->empty=0;
+
     if (size>1) {
         int cols=9;
         int count=0;
@@ -260,9 +267,11 @@ static void dump_double(grib_dumper* d,grib_accessor* a,const char* comment)
     if ( (a->flags & GRIB_ACCESSOR_FLAG_DUMP) == 0)
         return;
 
-    if (!self->begin) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
+    if (self->begin==0 && self->empty==0) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
     else self->begin=0;
 
+    self->empty=0;
+
     fprintf(self->dumper.out,"%-*s",mydepth," ");
     if( grib_is_missing_double(a,value) )
         fprintf(self->dumper.out,"\"%s\" : null",a->name);
@@ -294,9 +303,11 @@ static void dump_string_array(grib_dumper* d,grib_accessor* a,const char* commen
     return;
   }
 
-  if (!self->begin) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
+  if (self->begin==0 && self->empty==0) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
   else self->begin=0;
 
+  self->empty=0;
+
   values=(char**)grib_context_malloc_clear(c,size*sizeof(char*));
   if (!values) {
   	grib_context_log(c,GRIB_LOG_FATAL,"unable to allocate %d bytes",(int)size);
@@ -340,9 +351,11 @@ static void dump_string(grib_dumper* d,grib_accessor* a,const char* comment)
         return;
     }
 
-    if (!self->begin) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
+    if (self->begin==0 && self->empty==0) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
     else self->begin=0;
 
+    self->empty=0;
+
     err = grib_unpack_string(a,value,&size);
     p=value;
 
@@ -374,16 +387,18 @@ static void dump_section(grib_dumper* d,grib_accessor* a,grib_block_of_accessors
      ) {
         fprintf(self->dumper.out,"{\n");
         self->begin=1;
+        self->empty=1;
         grib_dump_accessors_block(d,block);
         fprintf(self->dumper.out,"\n}\n");
   } else if (!grib_inline_strcmp(a->name,"groupNumber")) {
     depth+=2;
-    fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
+    if (!self->empty) fprintf(self->dumper.out,",\n");
     fprintf(self->dumper.out,"%-*s",depth," ");
     fprintf(self->dumper.out,"\"group%d\" : {",(int)a->bufr_group_number);
     fprintf(self->dumper.out,"\n");
     /* fprintf(self->dumper.out,"%-*s",depth," "); */
     self->begin=1;
+    self->empty=1;
     grib_dump_accessors_block(d,block);
     fprintf(self->dumper.out,"\n");
     fprintf(self->dumper.out,"%-*s",depth," ");
diff --git a/tests/Makefile.am b/tests/Makefile.am
index f895a8032..809b4b8ee 100755
--- a/tests/Makefile.am
+++ b/tests/Makefile.am
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 TESTS = definitions.sh calendar.sh \
-        bufrdc_desc_ref.sh bufrdc_ref.sh bufr_dump.sh \
+        bufrdc_desc_ref.sh bufrdc_ref.sh bufr_dump.sh bufr_json.sh\
         ieee.sh grib1to2.sh \
         unit_tests.sh \
         grib2to1.sh badgrib.sh ls.sh filter.sh  \
diff --git a/tests/bufr_json.sh b/tests/bufr_json.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..f8530f7ca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/bufr_json.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Copyright 2005-2015 ECMWF.
+#
+# This software is licensed under the terms of the Apache Licence Version 2.0
+# which can be obtained at http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.
+#
+# In applying this licence, ECMWF does not waive the privileges and immunities granted to it by
+# virtue of its status as an intergovernmental organisation nor does it submit to any jurisdiction.
+#
+
+set -e
+
+. ./include.sh
+
+REDIRECT=/dev/null
+
+for file in ${data_dir}/bufr/*.bufr
+do
+
+  rm -f ${file}.json | true
+
+  ${tools_dir}bufr_dump -j $file 2> $REDIRECT > ${file}.json
+
+
+  json_xs < ${file}.json >$REDIRECT 2> $REDIRECT
+
+  rm -f ${file}.json
+
+done
+