diff --git a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/ScriptValue.java b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/ScriptValue.java
index 8c6d49cb1..c34c1183e 100755
--- a/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/ScriptValue.java
+++ b/karate-core/src/main/java/com/intuit/karate/ScriptValue.java
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ public String getAsStringRemovingCyclicReferences() {
             case JSON:
             case MAP:
                 Map map = JsonUtils.removeCyclicReferences(getAsMap());
-                return JsonUtils.toJsonDoc(map).jsonString();
+                return JsonUtils.toPrettyJsonString(JsonPath.parse(map));
             default:
                 return getAsString();
         }