diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8d018d..e27a7d0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -131,5 +131,13 @@ The following placeholders are available to format log messages using `log-forma
 * `%q`: query
 * `%a`: application name
 
+Set `log-format` to `json` to log each session as a JSON object instead:
+
+```
+pgterminate -log-format json
+```
+
+Keys are `pid`, `user`, `database`, `client`, `state`, `query`, `state_duration` and `application_name`. With `log-destination: file`, a `timestamp` key is added to each object.
+
 # License
 `pgterminate` is released under [The Unlicense](LICENSE) license. Code is under public domain.
diff --git a/base/session.go b/base/session.go
index 45cc98e..51d4529 100644
--- a/base/session.go
+++ b/base/session.go
@@ -1,20 +1,21 @@
 package base
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 )
 
 // Session represents a PostgreSQL backend
 type Session struct {
-	Pid             int64
-	User            string
-	Db              string
-	Client          string
-	State           string
-	Query           string
-	StateDuration   float64
-	ApplicationName string
+	Pid             int64   `json:"pid"`
+	User            string  `json:"user"`
+	Db              string  `json:"database"`
+	Client          string  `json:"client"`
+	State           string  `json:"state"`
+	Query           string  `json:"query"`
+	StateDuration   float64 `json:"state_duration"`
+	ApplicationName string  `json:"application_name"`
 }
 
 // NewSession instanciates a Session
@@ -53,6 +54,12 @@ func (s *Session) Format(format string) string {
 	return output
 }
 
+// JSON returns a Session marshaled as a JSON string
+func (s *Session) JSON() string {
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(s)
+	return string(b)
+}
+
 // IsIdle returns true when a session is doing nothing
 func (s *Session) IsIdle() bool {
 	if s.State == "idle" || s.State == "idle in transaction" || s.State == "idle in transaction (aborted)" {
diff --git a/base/session_test.go b/base/session_test.go
index 10b56c5..c6ca924 100644
--- a/base/session_test.go
+++ b/base/session_test.go
@@ -1,9 +1,32 @@
 package base
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"testing"
 )
 
+func TestSessionJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	session := &Session{
+		Pid:             1,
+		User:            "test",
+		Db:              "db",
+		Client:          "127.0.0.1:5432",
+		State:           "active",
+		Query:           "select 1",
+		StateDuration:   1.5,
+		ApplicationName: "psql",
+	}
+
+	var got Session
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(session.JSON()), &got); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid JSON: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if got != *session {
+		t.Errorf("got %+v; want %+v", got, *session)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestSessionEqual(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
 		name   string
diff --git a/cmd/pgterminate/main.go b/cmd/pgterminate/main.go
index 9375b3b..3f1f353 100644
--- a/cmd/pgterminate/main.go
+++ b/cmd/pgterminate/main.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func main() {
 	flag.Float64Var(&config.ActiveTimeout, "active-timeout", 0, "Time for active connections to be terminated in seconds")
 	flag.StringVar(&config.LogDestination, "log-destination", "console", "Log destination between 'console', 'syslog' or 'file'")
 	flag.StringVar(&config.LogFile, "log-file", "", "Write logs to a file")
-	flag.StringVar(&config.LogFormat, "log-format", "pid=%p user=%u db=%d client=%r state=%s state_duration=%m query=%q", "Represent messages using this format")
+	flag.StringVar(&config.LogFormat, "log-format", "pid=%p user=%u db=%d client=%r state=%s state_duration=%m query=%q", "Represent messages using this format, or 'json' to log sessions as JSON")
 	flag.StringVar(&config.PidFile, "pid-file", "", "Write process id into a file")
 	flag.StringVar(&config.SyslogIdent, "syslog-ident", "pgterminate", "Define syslog tag")
 	flag.StringVar(&config.SyslogFacility, "syslog-facility", "", "Define syslog facility from LOCAL0 to LOCAL7")
diff --git a/config.yaml.example b/config.yaml.example
index 7acce28..1e5c479 100644
--- a/config.yaml.example
+++ b/config.yaml.example
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #active-timeout: 10
 #log-file: /var/log/pgterminate/pgterminate.log
 #log-format: 'pid=%p user=%u db=%d client=%r state=%s state_duration=%m query=%q'
+#log-format: json
 #pid-file: /var/run/pgterminate/pgterminate.pid
 #log-destination: console|file|syslog
 #syslog-ident: pgterminate
diff --git a/notifier/console.go b/notifier/console.go
index daa3b77..9d10de6 100644
--- a/notifier/console.go
+++ b/notifier/console.go
@@ -23,7 +23,11 @@ func NewConsole(format string, sessions chan *base.Session) Notifier {
 func (c *Console) Run() {
 	log.Info("Starting console notifier")
 	for session := range c.sessions {
-		log.Info(session.Format(c.format))
+		if c.format == "json" {
+			log.Info(session.JSON())
+		} else {
+			log.Info(session.Format(c.format))
+		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/notifier/file.go b/notifier/file.go
index 142bd69..c7ced15 100644
--- a/notifier/file.go
+++ b/notifier/file.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package notifier
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"os"
 	"sync"
 	"time"
@@ -19,7 +20,7 @@ type File struct {
 }
 
 // NewFile creates a file notifier
-func NewFile(format string, name string, sessions chan *base.Session) Notifier {
+func NewFile(name string, format string, sessions chan *base.Session) Notifier {
 	return &File{
 		name:     name,
 		format:   format,
@@ -35,11 +36,27 @@ func (f *File) Run() {
 
 	for session := range f.sessions {
 		timestamp := time.Now().Format(time.RFC3339)
-		_, err := f.handle.WriteString(timestamp + " " + session.Format(f.format) + "\n")
+		var line string
+		if f.format == "json" {
+			line = jsonLine(timestamp, session)
+		} else {
+			line = timestamp + " " + session.Format(f.format)
+		}
+		_, err := f.handle.WriteString(line + "\n")
 		base.Panic(err)
 	}
 }
 
+// jsonLine marshals a session as a self-contained JSON object including the
+// timestamp, so each file line stays valid JSON instead of being prefixed
+func jsonLine(timestamp string, session *base.Session) string {
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(struct {
+		Timestamp string `json:"timestamp"`
+		*base.Session
+	}{timestamp, session})
+	return string(b)
+}
+
 // open opens a log file
 func (f *File) open() {
 	var err error
diff --git a/notifier/syslog.go b/notifier/syslog.go
index efb8335..6f9cf8b 100644
--- a/notifier/syslog.go
+++ b/notifier/syslog.go
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ func (s *Syslog) Run() {
 		base.Panic(err)
 	}
 	for session := range s.sessions {
-		s.writer.Info(session.Format(s.format))
+		if s.format == "json" {
+			s.writer.Info(session.JSON())
+		} else {
+			s.writer.Info(session.Format(s.format))
+		}
 	}
 }