diff --git a/hobo/environment/models.py b/hobo/environment/models.py
index 456c211..24b9c10 100644
--- a/hobo/environment/models.py
+++ b/hobo/environment/models.py
@@ -73,8 +73,12 @@ class Variable(models.Model):
         return self.name
 
     def _parse_value_as_json(self):
-        if self.value and (
-            self.value[0] in '{[' or self.value in ('true', 'false', 'null') or FLOAT_RE.match(self.value)
+        if (
+            self.value
+            and not self.value.startswith(('{{', '{%'))
+            and (
+                self.value[0] in '{[' or self.value in ('true', 'false', 'null') or FLOAT_RE.match(self.value)
+            )
         ):
             try:
                 return json.loads(self.value)
diff --git a/tests/test_environment.py b/tests/test_environment.py
index 8c5949f..cc3a0d5 100644
--- a/tests/test_environment.py
+++ b/tests/test_environment.py
@@ -236,6 +236,26 @@ def test_new_variable_view(app, admin_user):
     assert Variable.objects.all()[0].value == 'foofoo'
 
 
+def test_new_variable_templated_value(app, admin_user):
+    app = login(app)
+    response = app.get('/sites/new-variable')
+    response.form['name'] = 'foo'
+    response.form['label'] = 'bar'
+    response.form['value'] = '{{ foobar }}'
+    response = response.form.submit()
+    assert response.location == '/sites/variables'
+    assert Variable.objects.all()[0].name == 'foo'
+    assert Variable.objects.all()[0].label == 'bar'
+    assert Variable.objects.all()[0].value == '{{ foobar }}'
+    response = app.get('/sites/new-variable')
+    response.form['name'] = 'foo'
+    response.form['label'] = 'bar'
+    response.form['value'] = '{% firstof foofoo "Plop" %}'
+    response = response.form.submit()
+    assert response.location == '/sites/variables'
+    assert Variable.objects.all()[0].value == '{% firstof foofoo "Plop" %}'
+
+
 def test_new_variable_service_view(app, admin_user):
     app = login(app)
     Combo.objects.create(