diff --git a/library/Director/IcingaConfig/AssignRenderer.php b/library/Director/IcingaConfig/AssignRenderer.php
index 825ea6b85..4d53f3df9 100644
--- a/library/Director/IcingaConfig/AssignRenderer.php
+++ b/library/Director/IcingaConfig/AssignRenderer.php
@@ -130,7 +130,11 @@ protected function renderFilterExpression(FilterExpression $filter)
 
         $column = $filter->getColumn();
         try {
-            $rawExpression = JsonString::decode($filter->getExpression());
+            $rawExpression = $filter->getExpression();
+            if (is_string($rawExpression)) {
+                $rawExpression = JsonString::decode($filter->getExpression());
+            }
+
             $expression = $this->renderExpressionValue($rawExpression);
         } catch (JsonDecodeException $e) {
             throw new InvalidArgumentException(