--- JSON-XS/XS.xs	2008/03/26 22:54:38	1.83
+++ JSON-XS/XS.xs	2008/03/27 06:37:35	1.84
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 #define F_ALLOW_BLESSED  0x00000400UL
 #define F_CONV_BLESSED   0x00000800UL
 #define F_RELAXED        0x00001000UL
+#define F_ALLOW_UNKNOWN  0x00002000UL
 
 #define F_MAXDEPTH       0xf8000000UL
 #define S_MAXDEPTH       27
@@ -644,10 +645,14 @@
         encode_str (enc, "true", 4, 0);
       else if (len == 1 && *pv == '0')
         encode_str (enc, "false", 5, 0);
+      else if (enc->json.flags & F_ALLOW_UNKNOWN)
+        encode_str (enc, "null", 4, 0);
       else
         croak ("cannot encode reference to scalar '%s' unless the scalar is 0 or 1",
                SvPV_nolen (sv_2mortal (newRV_inc (sv))));
     }
+  else if (enc->json.flags & F_ALLOW_UNKNOWN)
+    encode_str (enc, "null", 4, 0);
   else
     croak ("encountered %s, but JSON can only represent references to arrays or hashes",
            SvPV_nolen (sv_2mortal (newRV_inc (sv))));
@@ -719,7 +724,7 @@
     }
   else if (SvROK (sv))
     encode_rv (enc, SvRV (sv));
-  else if (!SvOK (sv))
+  else if (!SvOK (sv) || enc->json.flags & F_ALLOW_UNKNOWN)
     encode_str (enc, "null", 4, 0);
   else
     croak ("encountered perl type (%s,0x%x) that JSON cannot handle, you might want to report this",
@@ -1659,6 +1664,7 @@
         allow_blessed   = F_ALLOW_BLESSED
         convert_blessed = F_CONV_BLESSED
         relaxed         = F_RELAXED
+        allow_unknown   = F_ALLOW_UNKNOWN
 	PPCODE:
 {
         if (enable)
@@ -1683,6 +1689,7 @@
         get_allow_blessed   = F_ALLOW_BLESSED
         get_convert_blessed = F_CONV_BLESSED
         get_relaxed         = F_RELAXED
+        get_allow_unknown   = F_ALLOW_UNKNOWN
 	PPCODE:
         XPUSHs (boolSV (self->flags & ix));