diff --git a/ircd/m/room.cc b/ircd/m/room.cc
index f79a63ed4..d4f20bf2b 100644
--- a/ircd/m/room.cc
+++ b/ircd/m/room.cc
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ ircd::m::message(const room &room,
 {
 	return message(room, sender,
 	{
-		{ "body",      body     },
-		{ "msgtype",   msgtype  }
+		{ "body",     { body,    json::STRING } },
+		{ "msgtype",  { msgtype, json::STRING } },
 	});
 }