diff --git a/mqtt_srv.py b/mqtt_srv.py
index a603493..b901b3a 100755
--- a/mqtt_srv.py
+++ b/mqtt_srv.py
@@ -1198,7 +1198,7 @@ else:
                         payload[m] = 1
                     else:
                         payload[m] = 0
-                client.publish( "home-assistant/" + host + "/hwstats", payload=payload, qos=0, retain=True)     
+                client.publish( "home-assistant/" + host + "/hwstats", payload=json.dumps(payload), qos=0, retain=True)     
             
        
         if FILE_TIMESTAMP != mtime: