diff --git a/tools/bufr_dump.c b/tools/bufr_dump.c
index e247b4bcf..251335b78 100644
--- a/tools/bufr_dump.c
+++ b/tools/bufr_dump.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ int grib_tool_init(grib_runtime_options* options)
     if (grib_options_on("d") && !grib_options_on("u"))
         options->dump_flags |= GRIB_DUMP_FLAG_ALL_DATA;
 
-    if (json) fprintf(stdout,"{\n");
+    if (json) fprintf(stdout,"{ \"messages\" : [ \n");
 
     return 0;
 }
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ int grib_tool_new_handle_action(grib_runtime_options* options, grib_handle* h)
     if (json) {
         grib_set_long(h,"unpack",1);
         if (options->handle_count>1) fprintf(stdout,",\n");
-        fprintf(stdout,"\"message%d\" : ",options->handle_count);
+        /* fprintf(stdout,"\"message%d\" : ",options->handle_count); */
     } else {
         sprintf(tmp,"MESSAGE %d ( length=%ld )",options->handle_count,length);
         if (!grib_options_on("C"))
@@ -185,6 +185,6 @@ void grib_tool_print_key_values(grib_runtime_options* options,grib_handle* h)
 
 int grib_tool_finalise_action(grib_runtime_options* options)
 {
-    if (json) fprintf(stdout,"\n}\n");
+    if (json) fprintf(stdout,"\n]}\n");
     return 0;
 }