diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index e3b3bdbf..9ab13b0c 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ func New() *cobra.Command {
 				return err
 			}
 
+			if outputToJSON {
+				explodeOp := treeops.Operation{OperationType: treeops.Explode}
+				explodeNode := treeops.PathTreeNode{Operation: &explodeOp}
+				pipeOp := treeops.Operation{OperationType: treeops.Pipe}
+				pathNode = &treeops.PathTreeNode{Operation: &pipeOp, Lhs: pathNode, Rhs: &explodeNode}
+			}
+
 			matchingNodes, err := evaluate("-", pathNode)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
diff --git a/cmd/utils.go b/cmd/utils.go
index 2b24c231..debd25fa 100644
--- a/cmd/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/utils.go
@@ -136,14 +136,6 @@ func printResults(matchingNodes *list.List, writer io.Writer) error {
 		colorsEnabled = true
 	}
 
-	//always explode anchors when printing json
-	if explodeAnchors || outputToJSON {
-		errorExploding := explode(matchingNodes)
-		if errorExploding != nil {
-			return errorExploding
-		}
-	}
-
 	bufferedWriter := bufio.NewWriter(writer)
 	defer safelyFlush(bufferedWriter)
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/lib.go b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/lib.go
index 51d3500b..c9ba0b0c 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/lib.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/lib.go
@@ -24,9 +24,7 @@ type OperationType struct {
 // - documentIndex - retrieves document index, can be used with select
 // - mergeAppend (merges and appends arrays)
 // - mergeEmpty (sets only if the document is empty, do I do that now?)
-// - updateStyle - not recursive
 // - updateTag - not recursive
-// - explodeAnchors
 // - compare ??
 // - validate ??
 // - exists
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/operator_explode_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/operator_explode_test.go
index b9f79cc5..8117e142 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/treeops/operator_explode_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/treeops/operator_explode_test.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
-//nested alias
-
 var explodeTest = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		document:   `{a: mike}`,
@@ -37,6 +35,15 @@ var explodeTest = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[foobar], (!!map)::{c: foo_c, a: foo_a, thing: foobar_thing}\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		document:   mergeDocSample,
+		expression: `.foo* | explode(explode(.)) | (. style="flow")`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[foo], (!!map)::{a: foo_a, thing: foo_thing, c: foo_c}\n",
+			"D0, P[foobarList], (!!map)::{b: bar_b, a: foo_a, thing: bar_thing, c: foobarList_c}\n",
+			"D0, P[foobar], (!!map)::{c: foo_c, a: foo_a, thing: foobar_thing}\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		document:   `{f : {a: &a cat, b: &b {f: *a}, *a: *b}}`,
 		expression: `explode(.f)`,