diff --git a/bitbake/bin/bitbake-hashclient b/bitbake/bin/bitbake-hashclient
index 58aa02ee55..3ff7b76378 100755
--- a/bitbake/bin/bitbake-hashclient
+++ b/bitbake/bin/bitbake-hashclient
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import threading
 import time
 import warnings
 import netrc
+import json
 warnings.simplefilter("default")
 
 try:
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ def main():
             s = client.reset_stats()
         else:
             s = client.get_stats()
-        pprint.pprint(s)
+        print(json.dumps(s, sort_keys=True, indent=4))
         return 0
 
     def handle_stress(args, client):
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/hashserv/tests.py b/bitbake/lib/hashserv/tests.py
index a80ccd57e1..2d78f9e976 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/hashserv/tests.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/hashserv/tests.py
@@ -815,7 +815,8 @@ class TestHashEquivalenceClient(HashEquivalenceTestSetup, unittest.TestCase):
         return "unix://" + os.path.join(self.temp_dir.name, 'sock%d' % server_idx)
 
     def test_stats(self):
-        self.run_hashclient(["--address", self.server_address, "stats"], check=True)
+        p = self.run_hashclient(["--address", self.server_address, "stats"], check=True)
+        json.loads(p.stdout)
 
     def test_stress(self):
         self.run_hashclient(["--address", self.server_address, "stress"], check=True)