diff --git a/list.go b/list.go
index 5fe414b8..627a5732 100644
--- a/list.go
+++ b/list.go
@@ -81,12 +81,9 @@ in json format:
 				fatal(err)
 			}
 		case "json":
-			data, err := json.Marshal(s)
-			if err != nil {
+			if err := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(s); err != nil {
 				fatal(err)
 			}
-			os.Stdout.Write(data)
-
 		default:
 			fatalf("invalid format option")
 		}
diff --git a/ps.go b/ps.go
index 5a0dae61..fad16ef8 100644
--- a/ps.go
+++ b/ps.go
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"os"
 	"os/exec"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -15,12 +17,35 @@ var psCommand = cli.Command{
 	Name:      "ps",
 	Usage:     "ps displays the processes running inside a container",
 	ArgsUsage: `<container-id> <ps options>`,
+	Flags: []cli.Flag{
+		cli.StringFlag{
+			Name:  "format, f",
+			Value: "",
+			Usage: `select one of: ` + formatOptions + `.
+
+The default format is table.  The following will output the processes of a container
+in json format:
+
+    # runc ps -f json`,
+		},
+	},
 	Action: func(context *cli.Context) {
 		container, err := getContainer(context)
 		if err != nil {
 			fatal(err)
 		}
 
+		if context.String("format") == "json" {
+			pids, err := container.Processes()
+			if err != nil {
+				fatal(err)
+			}
+			if err := json.NewEncoder(os.Stdout).Encode(pids); err != nil {
+				fatal(err)
+			}
+			return
+		}
+
 		psArgs := context.Args().Get(1)
 		if psArgs == "" {
 			psArgs = "-ef"