diff --git a/native_client/python/client.py b/native_client/python/client.py
index d7a75981..71ad382c 100644
--- a/native_client/python/client.py
+++ b/native_client/python/client.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def main():
                         help='Print version and exits')
     parser.add_argument('--extended', required=False, action='store_true',
                         help='Output string from extended metadata')
-    parser.add_argument('--json', required=False, action='store_false',
+    parser.add_argument('--json', required=False, action='store_true',
                         help='Output json from metadata with timestamp of each word')
     args = parser.parse_args()
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def main():
     inference_start = timer()
     if args.extended:
         print(metadata_to_string(ds.sttWithMetadata(audio)))
-    if args.json:
+    elif args.json:
         print(metadata_json_output(ds.sttWithMetadata(audio)))
     else:
         print(ds.stt(audio))