diff --git a/src/couchdb/couch_external_server.erl b/src/couchdb/couch_external_server.erl
index 045fcee..e1db2b2 100644
--- a/src/couchdb/couch_external_server.erl
+++ b/src/couchdb/couch_external_server.erl
@@ -48,7 +48,13 @@ terminate(_Reason, {_Name, _Command, Pid}) ->
     ok.
 
 handle_call({execute, JsonReq}, _From, {Name, Command, Pid}) ->
-    {reply, couch_os_process:prompt(Pid, JsonReq), {Name, Command, Pid}}.
+    Reply = case couch_os_process:prompt(Pid, JsonReq) of
+    {json, Json} ->
+        ?JSON_DECODE(Json);
+    Else ->
+        Else
+    end,
+    {reply, Reply, {Name, Command, Pid}}.
 
 handle_info({'EXIT', _Pid, normal}, State) ->
     {noreply, State};