diff --git a/script/create-test-env-json b/script/create-test-env-json
index fab800d6c..d11415206 100755
--- a/script/create-test-env-json
+++ b/script/create-test-env-json
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ cat << EOF > "${TEST_ENV}"
 {
   "test": "${TEST}",
   "run_id": "${ID}",
-  "run_description": "$(printf '%q' "${SUBJECT}")",
+  "run_description": $(python -c "import json; a='${SUBJECT}'; print json.dumps(a)"),
   "owner": "${AUTHOR}"
 }
 EOF