diff --git a/AUTHORS.rst b/AUTHORS.rst
index 9d445427..a066f5a4 100644
--- a/AUTHORS.rst
+++ b/AUTHORS.rst
@@ -31,3 +31,4 @@ Patches and ideas
 * `Justin Bonnar <https://github.com/jargonjustin>`_
 * `Nathan LaFreniere <https://github.com/nlf>`_
 * `Matthias Lehmann <https://github.com/matleh>`_
+* `Dennis Brakhane <https://github.com/brakhane>`_
diff --git a/httpie/output/formatters/colors.py b/httpie/output/formatters/colors.py
index d9276d6f..667ae91a 100644
--- a/httpie/output/formatters/colors.py
+++ b/httpie/output/formatters/colors.py
@@ -76,6 +76,10 @@ def get_lexer(mime):
             '%s/%s' % (type_, subtype_name),
             '%s/%s' % (type_, subtype_suffix)
         ])
+    # as a last resort, if no lexer feels responsible, and
+    # the subtype contains 'json', take the JSON lexer
+    if 'json' in subtype:
+        lexer_names.append('json')
     lexer = None
     for mime_type in mime_types:
         try:
diff --git a/tests/test_output.py b/tests/test_output.py
index ad2dec04..b4e2db3d 100644
--- a/tests/test_output.py
+++ b/tests/test_output.py
@@ -32,9 +32,13 @@ class TestColors:
         'application/json',
         'application/json+foo',
         'application/foo+json',
+        'application/json-foo',
+        'application/x-json',
         'foo/json',
         'foo/json+bar',
         'foo/bar+json',
+        'foo/json-foo',
+        'foo/x-json',
     ])
     def test_get_lexer(self, mime):
         lexer = get_lexer(mime)