diff --git a/kong/pdk/request.lua b/kong/pdk/request.lua
index 06fb846a2ae..c3e31c2e3eb 100644
--- a/kong/pdk/request.lua
+++ b/kong/pdk/request.lua
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ local PHASES = phase_checker.phases
 
 
 cjson.decode_array_with_array_mt(true)
+cjson.encode_sparse_array(nil, nil, 2^15)
+cjson.encode_number_precision(16)
 
 
 local function new(self)
diff --git a/kong/pdk/response.lua b/kong/pdk/response.lua
index e196067cd31..3611421233d 100644
--- a/kong/pdk/response.lua
+++ b/kong/pdk/response.lua
@@ -13,13 +13,14 @@
 
 
 local buffer = require "string.buffer"
-local cjson = require "cjson.safe"
+local cjson = require "cjson.safe".new()
 local checks = require "kong.pdk.private.checks"
 local phase_checker = require "kong.pdk.private.phases"
 local utils = require "kong.tools.utils"
 local request_id = require "kong.tracing.request_id"
 local constants = require "kong.constants"
 
+cjson.encode_sparse_array(nil, nil, 2^15)
 cjson.encode_number_precision(16)
 
 local ngx = ngx
diff --git a/kong/pdk/service/request.lua b/kong/pdk/service/request.lua
index 495dbf0febc..5003e5a261b 100644
--- a/kong/pdk/service/request.lua
+++ b/kong/pdk/service/request.lua
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 -- Module for manipulating the request sent to the Service.
 -- @module kong.service.request
 
-local cjson = require "cjson.safe"
+local cjson = require "cjson.safe".new()
 local buffer = require "string.buffer"
 local checks = require "kong.pdk.private.checks"
 local phase_checker = require "kong.pdk.private.phases"
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ local validate_headers = checks.validate_headers
 local check_phase = phase_checker.check
 local escape = require("kong.tools.uri").escape
 
+cjson.encode_sparse_array(nil, nil, 2^15)
+cjson.encode_number_precision(16)
+
 
 local PHASES = phase_checker.phases
 
diff --git a/kong/pdk/service/response.lua b/kong/pdk/service/response.lua
index ec51fe4fac0..d57df3546eb 100644
--- a/kong/pdk/service/response.lua
+++ b/kong/pdk/service/response.lua
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ local check_phase = phase_checker.check
 
 
 cjson.decode_array_with_array_mt(true)
+cjson.encode_sparse_array(nil, nil, 2^15)
+cjson.encode_number_precision(16)
 
 
 local replace_dashes       = string_tools.replace_dashes