diff --git a/gerbview/job_file_reader.cpp b/gerbview/job_file_reader.cpp
index 419d190a46..8b0311771b 100644
--- a/gerbview/job_file_reader.cpp
+++ b/gerbview/job_file_reader.cpp
@@ -92,6 +92,11 @@ private:
     REPORTER* m_reporter;
     wxFileName m_filename;
     wxArrayString m_GerberFiles;    // List of gerber files in job
+
+    // Convert a JSON string, that uses escaped sequence of 4 hexdecimal digits
+    // to encode unicode chars when not ASCII7 codes
+    // json11 converts this sequence to UTF8 string
+    wxString formatStringFromJSON( const std::string& name );
 };
 
 
@@ -136,10 +141,8 @@ bool GERBER_JOBFILE_READER::ReadGerberJobFile()
 
         for( auto& entry : json_parser["FilesAttributes"].array_items() )
         {
-            //wxLogMessage( entry.dump().c_str() );
             std::string name = entry["Path"].string_value();
-            //wxLogMessage( name.c_str() );
-            m_GerberFiles.Add( FormatStringFromGerber( name ) );
+            m_GerberFiles.Add( formatStringFromJSON( name ) );
         }
     }
     else
@@ -155,6 +158,17 @@ bool GERBER_JOBFILE_READER::ReadGerberJobFile()
 }
 
 
+wxString GERBER_JOBFILE_READER::formatStringFromJSON( const std::string& name )
+{
+    // Convert a JSON string, that uses a escaped sequence of 4 hexdecimal digits
+    // to encode unicode chars
+    // Our json11 library returns in this case a UTF8 sequence. Just convert it to
+    // a wxString.
+    wxString wstr = FROM_UTF8( name.c_str() );
+    return wstr;
+}
+
+
 bool GERBVIEW_FRAME::LoadGerberJobFile( const wxString& aFullFileName )
 {
     wxFileName filename = aFullFileName;
diff --git a/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.cpp b/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.cpp
index ebc5744ca1..31b6449913 100644
--- a/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.cpp
+++ b/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,26 @@ GERBER_JOBFILE_WRITER::GERBER_JOBFILE_WRITER( BOARD* aPcb, REPORTER* aReporter )
     m_indent = 0;
 }
 
+
+std::string GERBER_JOBFILE_WRITER::formatStringFromUTF32( const wxString& aText )
+{
+    std::string fmt_text;     // the text after UTF32 to UTF8 conversion
+
+    for( unsigned long letter: aText )
+    {
+        if( letter >= ' ' && letter <= 0x7F )
+            fmt_text += char( letter );
+        else
+        {
+            char buff[10];
+            sprintf( buff, "\\u%4.4lX", letter );
+            fmt_text += buff;
+        }
+    }
+    return fmt_text;
+}
+
+
 enum ONSIDE GERBER_JOBFILE_WRITER::hasSilkLayers()
 {
     int flag = SIDE_NONE;
@@ -396,10 +416,8 @@ void GERBER_JOBFILE_WRITER::addJSONFilesAttributes()
 
         if( !skip_file )
         {
-            // name can contain non ASCII7 chars.
-            // Only ASCII7 chars are accepted in gerber files. others must be converted to
-            // a gerber hexa sequence.
-            std::string strname = formatStringToGerber( name );
+            // Ensure the name is JSON compatible.
+            std::string strname = formatStringFromUTF32( name );
 
             openBlock();
             addJSONObject( wxString::Format( "\"Path\":  \"%s\",\n", strname.c_str() ) );
diff --git a/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.h b/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.h
index 89033fbd73..7704b0e228 100644
--- a/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.h
+++ b/pcbnew/exporters/gerber_jobfile_writer.h
@@ -202,6 +202,11 @@ private:
         addIndent(); m_JSONbuffer << aParam;
     }
 
+    /** A helper function to convert a wxString ( therefore a Unicode text ) to
+     * a JSON compatible string (a escaped unicode sequence of 4 hexa).
+     */
+    std::string formatStringFromUTF32( const wxString& aText );
+
 private:
     BOARD* m_pcb;               // The board
     REPORTER* m_reporter;       // a reporter for messages (can be null)