diff --git a/bridge/fdb.c b/bridge/fdb.c
index 118fd523..06a2254b 100644
--- a/bridge/fdb.c
+++ b/bridge/fdb.c
@@ -64,7 +64,10 @@ static const char *state_n2a(unsigned int s)
 	if (s & NUD_REACHABLE)
 		return "";
 
-	sprintf(buf, "state=%#x", s);
+	if (is_json_context())
+		sprintf(buf, "%#x", s);
+	else
+		sprintf(buf, "state=%#x", s);
 	return buf;
 }