diff --git a/test/bdd/utils/checks.py b/test/bdd/utils/checks.py
index 84032636..1d09f378 100644
--- a/test/bdd/utils/checks.py
+++ b/test/bdd/utils/checks.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 """
 Helper functions to compare expected values.
 """
+import ast
 import collections.abc
 import json
 import re
@@ -58,7 +59,8 @@ COMPARISON_FUNCS = {
     None: lambda val, exp: str(val) == exp,
     'i': lambda val, exp: str(val).lower() == exp.lower(),
     'fm': lambda val, exp: re.fullmatch(exp, val) is not None,
-    'dict': lambda val, exp: val is None if exp == '-' else (val == json.loads('{' + exp + '}')),
+    'dict': lambda val, exp: (val is None if exp == '-'
+                              else (val == ast.literal_eval('{' + exp + '}'))),
     'in_box': within_box
 }
 
diff --git a/test/bdd/utils/place_inserter.py b/test/bdd/utils/place_inserter.py
index d12f30a5..6d37b850 100644
--- a/test/bdd/utils/place_inserter.py
+++ b/test/bdd/utils/place_inserter.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 """
 Helper classes for filling the place table.
 """
-import json
+import ast
 import random
 import string
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class PlaceColumn:
         elif key.startswith('addr+'):
             self._add_hstore('address', key[5:], value)
         elif key in ('name', 'address', 'extratags'):
-            self.columns[key] = json.loads('{' + value + '}')
+            self.columns[key] = ast.literal_eval('{' + value + '}')
         else:
             assert key in ('class', 'type'), "Unknown column '{}'.".format(key)
             self.columns[key] = None if value == '' else value