diff --git a/README b/README
index 9bc0974dc..5497c6ffd 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -312,6 +312,10 @@ Release Notes for Clutter 1.4
   clutter-keysyms-compat.h header, which is included by clutter-keysyms.h
   unless CLUTTER_DISABLE_DEPRECATED is defined.
 
+• The internal copy of json-glib is now deprecated. Building Clutter will
+  default to the system copy and requires an explicit --with-json=internal
+  to override the check.
+
 Release Notes for Clutter 1.2
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index 187a4a18f..47162df39 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -797,7 +797,7 @@ dnl === JSON parser check =====================================================
 # we allow building clutter with the internal copy of json-glib
 # for platforms without it, but by default we depend on the
 # system copy
-m4_define([default_json], [check])
+m4_define([default_json], [system])
 AC_ARG_WITH([json],
             AC_HELP_STRING([--with-json=@<:@internal/check/system@:>@],
                            [Select the JSON-GLib copy to use @<:@default=default_json@:>@]),