diff --git a/doc/lua_api.txt b/doc/lua_api.txt
index bd465bbed..21cbcb822 100644
--- a/doc/lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/lua_api.txt
@@ -1458,6 +1458,12 @@ minetest.get_content_id(name) -> integer
 ^ Gets the internal content ID of name
 minetest.get_name_from_content_id(content_id) -> string
 ^ Gets the name of the content with that content ID
+minetest.parse_json(string[, nullvalue]) -> something
+^ Convert a string containing JSON data into the Lua equivalent
+^ nullvalue: returned in place of the JSON null; defaults to nil
+^ On success returns a table, a string, a number, a boolean or nullvalue
+^ On failure outputs an error message and returns nil
+^ Example: parse_json("[10, {\"a\":false}]") -> {[1] = 10, [2] = {a = false}}
 minetest.serialize(table) -> string
 ^ Convert a table containing tables, strings, numbers, booleans and nils
   into string form readable by minetest.deserialize
diff --git a/doc/menu_lua_api.txt b/doc/menu_lua_api.txt
index 014e689dc..d4bc093b0 100644
--- a/doc/menu_lua_api.txt
+++ b/doc/menu_lua_api.txt
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ engine.gettext(string) -> string
 fgettext(string, ...) -> string
 ^ call engine.gettext(string), replace "$1"..."$9" with the given
 ^ extra arguments, call engine.formspec_escape and return the result
+engine.parse_json(string[, nullvalue]) -> something
+^ see minetest.parse_json (lua_api.txt)
 dump(obj, dumped={})
 ^ Return object serialized as a string
 string:split(separator)
diff --git a/src/script/common/c_content.cpp b/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
index 2e26adb76..3a3a70860 100644
--- a/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
+++ b/src/script/common/c_content.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "tool.h"
 #include "serverobject.h"
 #include "mapgen.h"
+#include "json/json.h"
 
 struct EnumString es_TileAnimationType[] =
 {
@@ -998,3 +999,84 @@ bool read_schematic(lua_State *L, int index, DecoSchematic *dschem, Server *serv
 	
 	return true;
 }
+
+/******************************************************************************/
+// Returns depth of json value tree
+static int push_json_value_getdepth(const Json::Value &value)
+{
+	if (!value.isArray() && !value.isObject())
+		return 1;
+
+	int maxdepth = 0;
+	for (Json::Value::const_iterator it = value.begin();
+			it != value.end(); ++it) {
+		int elemdepth = push_json_value_getdepth(*it);
+		if (elemdepth > maxdepth)
+			maxdepth = elemdepth;
+	}
+	return maxdepth + 1;
+}
+// Recursive function to convert JSON --> Lua table
+static bool push_json_value_helper(lua_State *L, const Json::Value &value,
+		int nullindex)
+{
+	switch(value.type()) {
+		case Json::nullValue:
+		default:
+			lua_pushvalue(L, nullindex);
+			break;
+		case Json::intValue:
+			lua_pushinteger(L, value.asInt());
+			break;
+		case Json::uintValue:
+			lua_pushinteger(L, value.asUInt());
+			break;
+		case Json::realValue:
+			lua_pushnumber(L, value.asDouble());
+			break;
+		case Json::stringValue:
+			{
+				const char *str = value.asCString();
+				lua_pushstring(L, str ? str : "");
+			}
+			break;
+		case Json::booleanValue:
+			lua_pushboolean(L, value.asInt());
+			break;
+		case Json::arrayValue:
+			lua_newtable(L);
+			for (Json::Value::const_iterator it = value.begin();
+					it != value.end(); ++it) {
+				push_json_value_helper(L, *it, nullindex);
+				lua_rawseti(L, -2, it.index() + 1);
+			}
+			break;
+		case Json::objectValue:
+			lua_newtable(L);
+			for (Json::Value::const_iterator it = value.begin();
+					it != value.end(); ++it) {
+				const char *str = it.memberName();
+				lua_pushstring(L, str ? str : "");
+				push_json_value_helper(L, *it, nullindex);
+				lua_rawset(L, -3);
+			}
+			break;
+	}
+	return true;
+}
+// converts JSON --> Lua table; returns false if lua stack limit exceeded
+// nullindex: Lua stack index of value to use in place of JSON null
+bool push_json_value(lua_State *L, const Json::Value &value, int nullindex)
+{
+	if(nullindex < 0)
+		nullindex = lua_gettop(L) + 1 + nullindex;
+
+	int depth = push_json_value_getdepth(value);
+
+	// The maximum number of Lua stack slots used at each recursion level
+	// of push_json_value_helper is 2, so make sure there a depth * 2 slots
+	if (lua_checkstack(L, depth * 2))
+		return push_json_value_helper(L, value, nullindex);
+	else
+		return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/script/common/c_content.h b/src/script/common/c_content.h
index 6d1dfe1d5..27019e29e 100644
--- a/src/script/common/c_content.h
+++ b/src/script/common/c_content.h
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ extern "C" {
 #include "irrlichttypes_bloated.h"
 #include "util/string.h"
 
+namespace Json { class Value; }
+
 struct MapNode;
 class INodeDefManager;
 struct PointedThing;
@@ -145,6 +147,10 @@ bool               read_schematic            (lua_State *L, int index,
 
 void               luaentity_get             (lua_State *L,u16 id);
 
+bool               push_json_value           (lua_State *L,
+                                              const Json::Value &value,
+                                              int nullindex);
+
 extern struct EnumString es_TileAnimationType[];
 
 #endif /* C_CONTENT_H_ */
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_util.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_util.cpp
index 0e4de9eee..30fa56c42 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_util.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_util.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "tool.h"
 #include "settings.h"
 #include "main.h"  //required for g_settings, g_settings_path
+#include "json/json.h"
 
 // debug(...)
 // Writes a line to dstream
@@ -138,6 +139,45 @@ int ModApiUtil::l_setting_save(lua_State *L)
 	return 0;
 }
 
+// parse_json(str[, nullvalue])
+int ModApiUtil::l_parse_json(lua_State *L)
+{
+	NO_MAP_LOCK_REQUIRED;
+
+	const char *jsonstr = luaL_checkstring(L, 1);
+
+	// Use passed nullvalue or default to nil
+	int nullindex = 2;
+	if (lua_isnone(L, nullindex)) {
+		lua_pushnil(L);
+		nullindex = lua_gettop(L);
+	}
+
+	Json::Value root;
+
+	{
+		Json::Reader reader;
+		std::istringstream stream(jsonstr);
+
+		if (!reader.parse(stream, root)) {
+			errorstream << "Failed to parse json data "
+				<< reader.getFormattedErrorMessages();
+			errorstream << "data: \"" << jsonstr << "\""
+				<< std::endl;
+			lua_pushnil(L);
+			return 1;
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (!push_json_value(L, root, nullindex)) {
+		errorstream << "Failed to parse json data, "
+			<< "depth exceeds lua stack limit" << std::endl;
+		errorstream << "data: \"" << jsonstr << "\"" << std::endl;
+		lua_pushnil(L);
+	}
+	return 1;
+}
+
 // get_dig_params(groups, tool_capabilities[, time_from_last_punch])
 int ModApiUtil::l_get_dig_params(lua_State *L)
 {
@@ -191,6 +231,8 @@ void ModApiUtil::Initialize(lua_State *L, int top)
 	API_FCT(setting_getbool);
 	API_FCT(setting_save);
 
+	API_FCT(parse_json);
+
 	API_FCT(get_dig_params);
 	API_FCT(get_hit_params);
 
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_util.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_util.h
index b102e315b..71c55b342 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_util.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_util.h
@@ -59,6 +59,9 @@ private:
 	// setting_save()
 	static int l_setting_save(lua_State *L);
 
+	// parse_json(str[, nullvalue])
+	static int l_parse_json(lua_State *L);
+
 	// get_dig_params(groups, tool_capabilities[, time_from_last_punch])
 	static int l_get_dig_params(lua_State *L);