diff --git a/direnv.el b/direnv.el
index 60dbb44..70f87c4 100644
--- a/direnv.el
+++ b/direnv.el
@@ -111,7 +111,8 @@ use `default-directory', since there is no file name (or directory)."
                 (unless (zerop (buffer-size))
                   (goto-char (point-max))
                   (re-search-backward "^{")
-                  (let ((json-key-type 'string))
+                  (let ((json-key-type 'string)
+                        (json-object-type 'alist))
                     (json-read-object)))
               (unless (zerop (direnv--file-size stderr-tempfile))
                 (goto-char (point-max))