diff --git a/backends/json/json.cc b/backends/json/json.cc
index 589a5ab00..02d54a9a7 100644
--- a/backends/json/json.cc
+++ b/backends/json/json.cc
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ struct JsonWriter
 
 	string get_name(TwineRef name)
 	{
-		return get_string(design->twines.str(name));
+		return get_string(design->twines.unescaped_str(name));
 	}
 
 	string get_bits(SigSpec sig)