diff --git a/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py b/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py
index 93f917d5e7..45066b7e53 100644
--- a/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py
+++ b/testground/benchmark/benchmark/stateless.py
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ def gen(
         hostname_template=HOSTNAME_TEMPLATE,
         options={},
     ):
+        if isinstance(options, str):
+            options = json.loads(options)
         print("options", options)
         validators = options.get("validators", 3)
         fullnodes = options.get("fullnodes", 7)