diff --git a/awx/api/serializers.py b/awx/api/serializers.py
index 72cbb89c5b..2d7f4398be 100644
--- a/awx/api/serializers.py
+++ b/awx/api/serializers.py
@@ -1037,6 +1037,8 @@ class ActivityStreamSerializer(BaseSerializer):
             return {}
         try:
             d_changes = json.loads(obj.changes)
+            if 'variables' in d_changes:
+                d_changes['variables'] = json.loads(d_changes['variables'])
             return d_changes
         except Exception, e:
             logger.warn("Error deserializing activity stream json changes")