diff --git a/src/core/mockup-parser.js b/src/core/mockup-parser.js
index 3566144e4..02266f92a 100644
--- a/src/core/mockup-parser.js
+++ b/src/core/mockup-parser.js
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ const parser = {
         el_options = el.getAttribute(`data-pat-${pattern_name}`);
         if (el_options) {
             // parse options if string
-            if (typeof el_options === "string") {
+            try {
+                el_options = JSON.parse(el_options);
+            } catch {
+                // not JSON, try to parse it as semi-colon/colon list
                 const tmp_options = {};
                 el_options.split(";").forEach((item) => {
                     item = item.split(":");
diff --git a/src/core/mockup-parser.test.js b/src/core/mockup-parser.test.js
index ca23c216c..4e2cd4a18 100644
--- a/src/core/mockup-parser.test.js
+++ b/src/core/mockup-parser.test.js
@@ -44,4 +44,16 @@ describe("The mockup-parser", function () {
         expect(options.option2).toBe("value2");
         expect(options.injectedOption).toBe("injectedValue");
     });
+    it("parses JSON data attribute of a single node", function () {
+        const el = document.createElement("div");
+        el.setAttribute(
+            "data-pat-testpattern",
+            '{"option1": "value1", "option2": "value2"}'
+        );
+
+        const options = mockupParser.getOptions(el, "testpattern");
+
+        expect(options.option1).toBe("value1");
+        expect(options.option2).toBe("value2");
+    });
 });