diff --git a/lib/utils/reify-output.js b/lib/utils/reify-output.js
index f4a8442e9427f..739336460af02 100644
--- a/lib/utils/reify-output.js
+++ b/lib/utils/reify-output.js
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ const reifyOutput = (npm, arb) => {
   }
 
   if (diff) {
-    const showDiff = npm.config.get('dry-run') || npm.config.get('long')
+    const showDiff = (npm.config.get('dry-run') || npm.config.get('long')) && !npm.flatOptions.json
     const chalk = npm.chalk
 
     depth({