diff --git a/infoscreen/views.py b/infoscreen/views.py
index ed7108b..28a9399 100644
--- a/infoscreen/views.py
+++ b/infoscreen/views.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def create_item_generator(model):
             model.create_from_dict(data)
             return HttpResponse('{"status":"success"}')
         except RuntimeError as e:
-            return HttpResponseBadRequest('{"status":"failure","error":"{}"}'.format(str(e)))
+            return HttpResponseBadRequest(json.dumps({"status":"failure", "error":str(e)}))
     return create_item