diff --git a/plugins/template-function-json/src/index.ts b/plugins/template-function-json/src/index.ts
index f2b622e6..8383a0a1 100755
--- a/plugins/template-function-json/src/index.ts
+++ b/plugins/template-function-json/src/index.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ export const plugin: PluginDefinition = {
           if (Array.isArray(filtered)) {
             filtered = filtered[0];
           }
+          if (typeof filtered === 'string') {
+            return filtered;
+          }
 
           if (args.values.formatted) {
             return JSON.stringify(filtered, null, 2);