Index: library/Zend/Controller/Action/Helper/Json.php
===================================================================
--- library/Zend/Controller/Action/Helper/Json.php      (revision 24415)
+++ library/Zend/Controller/Action/Helper/Json.php      (working copy)
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@
      * @param  mixed   $data
      * @param  boolean $keepLayouts
      * @param  boolean|array $keepLayouts
+     * @param  boolean $dataIsJson Provided data is already JSON
      * NOTE:   if boolean, establish $keepLayouts to true|false
      *         if array, admit params for Zend_Json::encode as enableJsonExprFinder=>true|false
      *         if $keepLayouts and parmas for Zend_Json::encode are required
@@ -62,15 +63,17 @@
      * @throws Zend_Controller_Action_Helper_Json
      * @return string
      */
-    public function encodeJson($data, $keepLayouts = false)
+    public function encodeJson($data, $keepLayouts = false, $dataIsJson = false)
     {
-        /**
-         * @see Zend_View_Helper_Json
-         */
-        require_once 'Zend/View/Helper/Json.php';
-        $jsonHelper = new Zend_View_Helper_Json();
-        $data = $jsonHelper->json($data, $keepLayouts);
-
+        if (!$dataIsJson) {
+            /**
+             * @see Zend_View_Helper_Json
+             */
+            require_once 'Zend/View/Helper/Json.php';
+            $jsonHelper = new Zend_View_Helper_Json();
+            $data = $jsonHelper->json($data, $keepLayouts);
+        }
+
         if (!$keepLayouts) {
             /**
              * @see Zend_Controller_Action_HelperBroker
@@ -87,6 +90,7 @@
      *
      * @param  mixed   $data
      * @param  boolean|array $keepLayouts
+     * @param  boolean $dataIsJson Provided data is already JSON
      * NOTE:   if boolean, establish $keepLayouts to true|false
      *         if array, admit params for Zend_Json::encode as enableJsonExprFinder=>true|false
      *         if $keepLayouts and parmas for Zend_Json::encode are required
@@ -95,9 +99,11 @@
      *         to Zend_View_Helper_Json
      * @return string|void
      */
-    public function sendJson($data, $keepLayouts = false)
+    public function sendJson($data, $keepLayouts = false, $dataIsJson = false)
     {
-        $data = $this->encodeJson($data, $keepLayouts);
+        if (!$dataIsJson) {
+            $data = $this->encodeJson($data, $keepLayouts, false);
+        }
         $response = $this->getResponse();
         $response->setBody($data);

@@ -118,9 +124,10 @@
      * @param  mixed   $data
      * @param  boolean $sendNow
      * @param  boolean $keepLayouts
+     * @param  boolean $dataIsJson Provided data is already JSON
      * @return string|void
      */
-    public function direct($data, $sendNow = true, $keepLayouts = false)
+    public function direct($data, $sendNow = true, $keepLayouts = false, $dataIsJson = false)
     {
         if ($sendNow) {
             return $this->sendJson($data, $keepLayouts);