diff --git a/lib/fluent/plugin/parser_json.rb b/lib/fluent/plugin/parser_json.rb
index 52dd6f5e8f..1a2362990e 100644
--- a/lib/fluent/plugin/parser_json.rb
+++ b/lib/fluent/plugin/parser_json.rb
@@ -58,14 +58,14 @@ def configure_json_parser(name)
           raise "BUG: unknown json parser specified: #{name}"
         end
       rescue LoadError => ex
-        name = :yajl
         if log
-          if /\boj\z/.match?(ex.message)
+          if name == :oj
             log.info "Oj is not installed, and failing back to Yajl for json parser"
           else
             log.warn ex.message
           end
         end
+        name = :yajl
         retry
       end