diff --git a/lib/middleman/base.rb b/lib/middleman/base.rb
index 3ba60936..5e11a794 100644
--- a/lib/middleman/base.rb
+++ b/lib/middleman/base.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 module Middleman::Base
   class << self
     def registered(app)
+      # Explicitly require json support
+      require "active_support"
+      require "active_support/json"
+
       app.extend ClassMethods
       app.send :include, InstanceMethods