diff --git a/samples/json/README.md b/samples/json/README.md
index d5e1fe764..270d56680 100644
--- a/samples/json/README.md
+++ b/samples/json/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 # JSON Configuration files
 
-This example shows how to read option values from JSON files using the kotlinx.serialization library.
+This example shows how to read option values from JSON files using the `kotlinx.serialization`
+library. It reads config files from the `config.json` file located in this directory.
 
 ```
 ./runsample json subcommand
diff --git a/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/JsonValueSource.kt b/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/JsonValueSource.kt
index 824e2a8bf..412be16cb 100644
--- a/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/JsonValueSource.kt
+++ b/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/JsonValueSource.kt
@@ -5,10 +5,7 @@ import com.github.ajalt.clikt.core.InvalidFileFormat
 import com.github.ajalt.clikt.parameters.options.Option
 import com.github.ajalt.clikt.sources.ValueSource
 import kotlinx.serialization.SerializationException
-import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
-import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonArray
-import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonElement
-import kotlinx.serialization.json.JsonObject
+import kotlinx.serialization.json.*
 import java.io.File
 
 /**
@@ -27,10 +24,17 @@ class JsonValueSource(
         }
         if (cursor == null) return emptyList()
 
-        // This implementation interprets a list as multiple invocations, but you could also
-        // implement it as a single invocation with multiple values.
-        if (cursor is JsonArray) return cursor.map { ValueSource.Invocation.value(it) }
-        return ValueSource.Invocation.just(cursor)
+        try {
+            // This implementation interprets a list as multiple invocations, but you could also
+            // implement it as a single invocation with multiple values.
+            if (cursor is JsonArray) return cursor.map {
+                ValueSource.Invocation.value(it.jsonPrimitive.content)
+            }
+            return ValueSource.Invocation.just(cursor.jsonPrimitive.content)
+        } catch (e: IllegalArgumentException) {
+            // This implementation skips invalid values, but you could handle them differently.
+            return emptyList()
+        }
     }
 
     companion object {
@@ -41,12 +45,16 @@ class JsonValueSource(
                 Json.parseToJsonElement(file.readText()) as? JsonObject
                     ?: throw InvalidFileFormat(file.path, "object expected", 1)
             } catch (e: SerializationException) {
-                if (requireValid) throw InvalidFileFormat(file.name, e.message ?: "could not read file")
+                if (requireValid) {
+                    throw InvalidFileFormat(file.name, e.message ?: "could not read file")
+                }
                 JsonObject(emptyMap())
             }
             return JsonValueSource(json)
         }
 
-        fun from(file: String, requireValid: Boolean = false): JsonValueSource = from(File(file), requireValid)
+        fun from(file: String, requireValid: Boolean = false): JsonValueSource {
+            return from(File(file), requireValid)
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/main.kt b/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/main.kt
index 9f7a45b8a..1f928c81b 100644
--- a/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/main.kt
+++ b/samples/json/src/main/kotlin/com/github/ajalt/clikt/samples/json/main.kt
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ class Cli : CliktCommand(help = "An example using json files for configuration v
     init {
         context {
             valueSources(
-                JsonValueSource.from(System.getProperty("user.dir") + "config.json"),
+                JsonValueSource.from(System.getProperty("user.dir") + "/config.json"),
                 JsonValueSource.from(System.getProperty("user.dir") + "/samples/json/config.json")
             )
         }