diff --git a/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js b/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
index fea151a0ff..b0304ed88f 100644
--- a/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
+++ b/lib/internal/modules/esm/default_resolve.js
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ const { realpathSync } = require('fs');
 const { getOptionValue } = require('internal/options');
 const preserveSymlinks = getOptionValue('--preserve-symlinks');
 const preserveSymlinksMain = getOptionValue('--preserve-symlinks-main');
+const experimentalJsonModules = getOptionValue('--experimental-json-modules');
 const { ERR_UNKNOWN_FILE_EXTENSION } = require('internal/errors').codes;
 const { resolve: moduleWrapResolve } = internalBinding('module_wrap');
 const { pathToFileURL, fileURLToPath } = require('internal/url');
@@ -25,11 +26,20 @@ const legacyExtensionFormatMap = {
   '__proto__': null,
   '.cjs': 'cjs',
   '.js': 'cjs',
-  '.json': 'cjs',
   '.mjs': 'esm',
   '.node': 'cjs'
 };
 
+if (experimentalJsonModules) {
+  // This is a total hack
+  Object.assign(extensionFormatMap, {
+    '.json': 'cjs'
+  });
+  Object.assign(legacyExtensionFormatMap, {
+    '.json': 'cjs'
+  });
+}
+
 function resolve(specifier, parentURL) {
   if (NativeModule.canBeRequiredByUsers(specifier)) {
     return {
diff --git a/src/node_options.cc b/src/node_options.cc
index 97ec093b21..9de06c93b4 100644
--- a/src/node_options.cc
+++ b/src/node_options.cc
@@ -160,6 +160,10 @@ DebugOptionsParser::DebugOptionsParser() {
 }
 
 EnvironmentOptionsParser::EnvironmentOptionsParser() {
+  AddOption("--experimental-json-modules",
+            "experimental JSON interop support for the ES Module loader",
+            &EnvironmentOptions::experimental_json_modules,
+            kAllowedInEnvironment);
   AddOption("--experimental-modules",
             "experimental ES Module support and caching modules",
             &EnvironmentOptions::experimental_modules,
diff --git a/src/node_options.h b/src/node_options.h
index f52f79c895..df7ecaf117 100644
--- a/src/node_options.h
+++ b/src/node_options.h
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class DebugOptions : public Options {
 class EnvironmentOptions : public Options {
  public:
   bool abort_on_uncaught_exception = false;
+  bool experimental_json_modules = false;
   bool experimental_modules = false;
   std::string module_type;
   std::string experimental_policy;
diff --git a/test/es-module/test-esm-json.mjs b/test/es-module/test-esm-json.mjs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4c2cc4980e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/es-module/test-esm-json.mjs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+// Flags: --experimental-modules --experimental-json-modules
+/* eslint-disable node-core/required-modules */
+
+import '../common/index.mjs';
+import { strictEqual } from 'assert';
+
+import secret from '../fixtures/utf8-bom.json';
+
+strictEqual(secret, 42);