diff --git a/doc/source/contributor/authoring-plugins.rst b/doc/source/contributor/authoring-plugins.rst
index c38ee147..b96b83ae 100644
--- a/doc/source/contributor/authoring-plugins.rst
+++ b/doc/source/contributor/authoring-plugins.rst
@@ -40,9 +40,10 @@ In the case of neutron networks, the initial data will come from
 ``neutronclient``. Some browsing of the API documentation reveals that the
 call I want is ``list_networks``::
 
-    import json
     import os
 
+    from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
+
     from keystoneclient.auth.identity import v2
     from keystoneclient import session
     from neutronclient.v2_0 import client as nc_20
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ call I want is ``list_networks``::
     nc = nc_20.Client(session=get_session())
     networks = nc.list_networks()
 
-    print(json.dumps(networks, indent=4, sort_keys=True))
+    print(jsonutils.dumps(networks, indent=4, sort_keys=True))
 
 This outputs::
 
diff --git a/searchlight/api/v1/search.py b/searchlight/api/v1/search.py
index 6621f1e0..0d8669b9 100644
--- a/searchlight/api/v1/search.py
+++ b/searchlight/api/v1/search.py
@@ -13,11 +13,10 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import json
-
 from elasticsearch import exceptions as es_exc
 from oslo_config import cfg
 from oslo_log import log as logging
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 from oslo_utils import encodeutils
 import six
 import webob.exc
@@ -553,17 +552,17 @@ class ResponseSerializer(wsgi.JSONResponseSerializer):
         self.schema = schema
 
     def search(self, response, query_result):
-        body = json.dumps(query_result, ensure_ascii=False)
+        body = jsonutils.dumps(query_result, ensure_ascii=False)
         response.unicode_body = six.text_type(body)
         response.content_type = 'application/json'
 
     def plugins_info(self, response, query_result):
-        body = json.dumps(query_result, ensure_ascii=False)
+        body = jsonutils.dumps(query_result, ensure_ascii=False)
         response.unicode_body = six.text_type(body)
         response.content_type = 'application/json'
 
     def facets(self, response, query_result):
-        body = json.dumps(query_result, ensure_ascii=False)
+        body = jsonutils.dumps(query_result, ensure_ascii=False)
         response.unicode_body = six.text_type(body)
         response.content_type = 'application/json'
 
diff --git a/searchlight/elasticsearch/plugins/nova/__init__.py b/searchlight/elasticsearch/plugins/nova/__init__.py
index 2e166a1b..ccca8bc3 100644
--- a/searchlight/elasticsearch/plugins/nova/__init__.py
+++ b/searchlight/elasticsearch/plugins/nova/__init__.py
@@ -14,12 +14,13 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import copy
-import json
 import logging
 import novaclient.exceptions
 import novaclient.v2.flavors
 import six
 
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
+
 from searchlight.elasticsearch.plugins import openstack_clients
 from searchlight.elasticsearch.plugins import utils
 
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ def serialize_nova_hypervisor(hypervisor, updated_at=None):
     # to JSON object in microversion 2.28, we should be able to
     # deal with JSON object here.
     if not isinstance(serialized['cpu_info'], dict):
-        serialized['cpu_info'] = json.loads(serialized['cpu_info'])
+        serialized['cpu_info'] = jsonutils.loads(serialized['cpu_info'])
     if not getattr(hypervisor, 'updated_at', None):
         serialized['updated_at'] = updated_at or utils.get_now_str()
     # TODO(lyj): Remove this once hypervisor notifications supported.
diff --git a/searchlight/tests/functional/__init__.py b/searchlight/tests/functional/__init__.py
index 76f48598..35da8554 100644
--- a/searchlight/tests/functional/__init__.py
+++ b/searchlight/tests/functional/__init__.py
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import datetime
 import elasticsearch
 import httplib2
 import importlib
-import json
 import logging
 import mock
 import os
@@ -597,8 +596,9 @@ class FunctionalTest(test_utils.BaseTestCase):
 
     def _load_fixture_data(self, name):
         base_dir = "searchlight/tests/functional/data"
-        with open(os.path.join(base_dir, name), 'r') as f:
-            return json.load(f)
+        # binary mode is needed due to bug/1515231
+        with open(os.path.join(base_dir, name), 'r+b') as f:
+            return jsonutils.load(f)
 
     def set_policy_rules(self, rules):
         fap = open(self.policy_file, 'w')
diff --git a/searchlight/tests/functional/generate_load_data.py b/searchlight/tests/functional/generate_load_data.py
index 80fd8922..0c49243a 100644
--- a/searchlight/tests/functional/generate_load_data.py
+++ b/searchlight/tests/functional/generate_load_data.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import os
-import simplejson as json
+
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 
 from glanceclient.v2 import client as glance
 from keystoneauth1 import session
@@ -78,7 +79,7 @@ def get_glance_images_and_members_with_pyclient():
 
     glance_client = get_glanceclient()
     images = glance_client.images.list()
-    images_json = json.dumps(list(images), indent=4)
+    images_json = jsonutils.dumps(list(images), indent=4)
     with open(IMAGES_FILE, "w") as f:
         f.write(images_json)
 
@@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ def get_glance_images_and_members_with_pyclient():
                 image_members_list = list(image_members)
             if len(image_members_list) > 0:
                 image_members_dict[image['id']] = image_members_list
-    image_members_json = json.dumps(image_members_dict, indent=4)
+    image_members_json = jsonutils.dumps(image_members_dict, indent=4)
     with open(IMAGE_MEMBERS_FILE, "w") as f:
         f.write(image_members_json)
 
@@ -108,7 +109,7 @@ def get_glance_metadefs_with_pyclient():
             namespace['namespace'])
         namespace_list.append(_namespace)
 
-    metadef_namespace_json = json.dumps(namespace_list, indent=4)
+    metadef_namespace_json = jsonutils.dumps(namespace_list, indent=4)
 
     with open(METADEFS_FILE, "w") as f:
         f.write(metadef_namespace_json)
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ def get_nova_servers_with_pyclient():
     servers_list = []
     for each in servers:
         servers_list.append(each.to_dict())
-    servers_json = json.dumps(list(servers_list), indent=4)
+    servers_json = jsonutils.dumps(list(servers_list), indent=4)
     with open(SERVERS_FILE, "w") as f:
         f.write(servers_json)
 
@@ -134,7 +135,7 @@ def get_nova_flavors_with_pyclient():
     flavor_dict.pop("links")
     flavor_dict.update({"tenant_id": _get_flavor_tenant(flavor)})
     flavor_dict.update({"extra_spec": flavor.get_keys()})
-    flavors_json = json.dumps([flavor_dict], indent=4)
+    flavors_json = jsonutils.dumps([flavor_dict], indent=4)
     with open(FLAVORS_FILE, "w") as f:
         f.write(flavors_json)
 
@@ -146,7 +147,8 @@ def get_nova_server_groups_with_pyclient():
     server_groups_list = []
     for each in server_groups:
         server_groups_list.append(each.to_dict())
-        server_groups_json = json.dumps(list(server_groups_list), indent=4)
+        server_groups_json = jsonutils.dumps(list(server_groups_list),
+                                             indent=4)
     with open(SERVERS_FILE, "w") as f:
         f.write(server_groups_json)
 
diff --git a/searchlight/tests/functional/mock_glance_pyclient.py b/searchlight/tests/functional/mock_glance_pyclient.py
index a4e786e8..c8ecd8db 100644
--- a/searchlight/tests/functional/mock_glance_pyclient.py
+++ b/searchlight/tests/functional/mock_glance_pyclient.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import json
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 
 from searchlight.tests.functional import generate_load_data
 
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ class FakeGlanceClient(object):
     def __init__(self):
         # Load Images from file
         self._images = []
-        with open(generate_load_data.IMAGES_FILE, "r") as file:
-            image_data = json.load(file)
+        with open(generate_load_data.IMAGES_FILE, "r+b") as file:
+            image_data = jsonutils.load(file)
         for image in image_data:
             fake_image = FakeImage(**image)
             self._images.append(fake_image)
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ class FakeGlanceClient(object):
         # Load Images members from file
         self._images_members_dict = dict()
         self._image_members_list = []
-        with open(generate_load_data.IMAGE_MEMBERS_FILE, "r") as file:
-            image_members_data = json.load(file)
+        with open(generate_load_data.IMAGE_MEMBERS_FILE, "r+b") as file:
+            image_members_data = jsonutils.load(file)
         for image_id, image_members in image_members_data.items():
             for image_member in image_members:
                 fake_image_member = FakeImageMember(**image_member)
@@ -129,8 +129,8 @@ class FakeGlanceClient(object):
         # Load Metadef namespaces from file
         self._metadefs_namespace = []
         self.metadefs_namespace = []
-        with open(generate_load_data.METADEFS_FILE, "r") as file:
-            metadefs_namespace_data = json.load(file)
+        with open(generate_load_data.METADEFS_FILE, "r+b") as file:
+            metadefs_namespace_data = jsonutils.load(file)
         for metadef_namespace in metadefs_namespace_data:
             fake_namespace = FakeNamespace(**metadef_namespace)
             self._metadefs_namespace.append(fake_namespace)
diff --git a/searchlight/tests/functional/test_api.py b/searchlight/tests/functional/test_api.py
index 30d70dba..f5185b56 100644
--- a/searchlight/tests/functional/test_api.py
+++ b/searchlight/tests/functional/test_api.py
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-import json
 import mock
 import os
 import six
 import time
 
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 from oslo_utils import uuidutils
 
 from searchlight.elasticsearch import ROLE_USER_FIELD
@@ -48,13 +48,13 @@ class TestSearchApi(functional.FunctionalTest):
     it can use plugins for the sake of making requests
     """
     def _modify_policy_file(self, rules):
-        with open(self.policy_file, 'r') as policy_file:
-            existing_policy = json.load(policy_file)
+        with open(self.policy_file, 'r+b') as policy_file:
+            existing_policy = jsonutils.load(policy_file)
 
         existing_policy.update(rules)
 
         with open(self.policy_file, 'w') as policy_file:
-            json.dump(existing_policy, policy_file)
+            jsonutils.dump(existing_policy, policy_file)
 
         time.sleep(2)
 
@@ -1025,7 +1025,7 @@ class TestSearchApi(functional.FunctionalTest):
 class TestServerServicePolicies(functional.FunctionalTest):
     def _write_policy_file(self, filename, rules):
         with open(os.path.join(self.conf_dir, filename), 'w') as pol_file:
-            json.dump(rules, pol_file)
+            jsonutils.dump(rules, pol_file)
 
     def _additional_server_config(self):
         """Create some service policy files"""
diff --git a/searchlight/tests/functional/test_glance_plugins.py b/searchlight/tests/functional/test_glance_plugins.py
index 4c1ff7b7..6666426e 100644
--- a/searchlight/tests/functional/test_glance_plugins.py
+++ b/searchlight/tests/functional/test_glance_plugins.py
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 import copy
-import json
 import mock
 
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 from oslo_utils import uuidutils
 
 from searchlight.listener import NotificationEndpoint
@@ -784,14 +784,14 @@ class TestGlanceLoad(functional.FunctionalTest):
         self.metadefs_plugin = self.initialized_plugins['OS::Glance::Metadef']
 
     def _get_glance_image_owner_and_count(self):
-        with open(generate_load_data.IMAGES_FILE, "r") as file:
-            images_data = json.load(file)
+        with open(generate_load_data.IMAGES_FILE, "r+b") as file:
+            images_data = jsonutils.load(file)
         if len(images_data) > 0:
             return len(images_data), images_data[0]['owner']
 
     def _get_glance_metadefs_owner_and_count(self):
-        with open(generate_load_data.METADEFS_FILE, "r") as file:
-            metadefs_data = json.load(file)
+        with open(generate_load_data.METADEFS_FILE, "r+b") as file:
+            metadefs_data = jsonutils.load(file)
         if len(metadefs_data) > 0:
             return len(metadefs_data), metadefs_data[0]['owner']
 
diff --git a/test-scripts/generate-swift-data.py b/test-scripts/generate-swift-data.py
index 9b66e12a..7e76a501 100644
--- a/test-scripts/generate-swift-data.py
+++ b/test-scripts/generate-swift-data.py
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 # limitations under the License.
 
 
-import json
 from keystoneclient.auth.identity import v2
 from keystoneclient import session
 import os
@@ -26,6 +25,8 @@ import string
 import swiftclient
 import sys
 
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
+
 container_base_name = "scale_"
 object_base_name = "object_"
 object_meta_choices = [None, 'These', 'Are', 'Some', 'Random', 'Words']
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ object_contents = (
                 transform="translate(-70,150)"/>
     </g>
 </svg>"""),
-    ("application/json", json.dumps({"key": ["some", "json", "vals"]})),
+    ("application/json", jsonutils.dumps({"key": ["some", "json", "vals"]})),
     ("text/html", """<html><body>This is some html</body></html>"""),
     ("application/octet-stream", "This is some octet stream"),
     ("application/text", "This is some text")
diff --git a/test-scripts/listener.py b/test-scripts/listener.py
index 576bfcf4..be032706 100755
--- a/test-scripts/listener.py
+++ b/test-scripts/listener.py
@@ -15,16 +15,14 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-
-import json
 import os
 from oslo_config import cfg
 import oslo_messaging
+from oslo_serialization import jsonutils
 import six.moves.urllib.parse as urlparse
 import sys
 import time
 
-
 topic = 'notifications'
 password = os.environ.get('RABBIT_PASSWORD', os.environ.get('OS_PASSWORD'))
 host = urlparse.urlparse(os.environ.get('OS_AUTH_URL')).hostname
@@ -35,12 +33,12 @@ class EP(object):
     def info(self, ctxt, publisher_id, event_type, payload, metadata):
         all_locals = locals()
         all_locals.pop('self')
-        print(json.dumps(all_locals))
+        print(jsonutils.dumps(all_locals))
 
     def error(self, ctxt, publisher_id, event_type, payload, metadata):
         all_locals = locals()
         all_locals.pop('self')
-        print(json.dumps(all_locals))
+        print(jsonutils.dumps(all_locals))
 
 
 def main():