diff --git a/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/ViaConfig.java b/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/ViaConfig.java
index af23dca75..7a91146a3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/ViaConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/ViaConfig.java
@@ -164,4 +164,9 @@ public class ViaConfig implements ViaVersionConfig {
         // Collision has to be enabled first
         return isPreventCollision() && plugin.getConfig().getBoolean("auto-team", true);
     }
+
+    @Override
+    public boolean isForceJsonTransform() {
+        return plugin.getConfig().getBoolean("force-json-transform", false);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/api/ViaVersionConfig.java b/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/api/ViaVersionConfig.java
index 9682564dc..0c9a64bec 100644
--- a/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/api/ViaVersionConfig.java
+++ b/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/api/ViaVersionConfig.java
@@ -186,4 +186,11 @@ public interface ViaVersionConfig {
      * @return The integer id
      */
     int getPistonReplacementId();
+
+    /**
+     * Force json transform
+     *
+     * @return True if enabled
+     */
+    boolean isForceJsonTransform();
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/protocols/protocol1_9to1_8/Protocol1_9TO1_8.java b/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/protocols/protocol1_9to1_8/Protocol1_9TO1_8.java
index e92dbd03f..ac019978b 100644
--- a/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/protocols/protocol1_9to1_8/Protocol1_9TO1_8.java
+++ b/src/main/java/us/myles/ViaVersion/protocols/protocol1_9to1_8/Protocol1_9TO1_8.java
@@ -41,9 +41,7 @@ public class Protocol1_9TO1_8 extends Protocol {
             line = "{\"text\":\"\"}";
         } else {
             if ((!line.startsWith("\"") || !line.endsWith("\"")) && (!line.startsWith("{") || !line.endsWith("}"))) {
-                JsonObject jsonObject = new JsonObject();
-                jsonObject.addProperty("text", line);
-                return gson.toJson(jsonObject);
+                return constructJson(line);
             }
             if (line.startsWith("\"") && line.endsWith("\"")) {
                 line = "{\"text\":" + line + "}";
@@ -52,12 +50,22 @@ public class Protocol1_9TO1_8 extends Protocol {
         try {
             gson.fromJson(line, JsonObject.class);
         } catch (Exception e) {
-            System.out.println("Invalid JSON String: \"" + line + "\" Please report this issue to the ViaVersion Github: " + e.getMessage());
-            return "{\"text\":\"\"}";
+            if (ViaVersion.getConfig().isForceJsonTransform()) {
+                return constructJson(line);
+            } else {
+                System.out.println("Invalid JSON String: \"" + line + "\" Please report this issue to the ViaVersion Github: " + e.getMessage());
+                return "{\"text\":\"\"}";
+            }
         }
         return line;
     }
 
+    private static String constructJson(String text) {
+        JsonObject jsonObject = new JsonObject();
+        jsonObject.addProperty("text", text);
+        return gson.toJson(jsonObject);
+    }
+
     public static Item getHandItem(final UserConnection info) {
         if (HandItemCache.CACHE) {
             return HandItemCache.getHandItem(info.get(ProtocolInfo.class).getUuid());
diff --git a/src/main/resources/config.yml b/src/main/resources/config.yml
index e0ad6dd40..f7c7864b8 100644
--- a/src/main/resources/config.yml
+++ b/src/main/resources/config.yml
@@ -74,4 +74,6 @@ anti-xray-patch: true
 # Should we replace extended pistons to fix 1.10.1 (Only on chunk load)
 replace-pistons: false
 # What id should we replace with, default is air. (careful of players getting stuck standing on them)
-replacement-piston-id: 0
\ No newline at end of file
+replacement-piston-id: 0
+# Force the string -> json transform
+force-json-transform: true
\ No newline at end of file