diff --git a/db_central_columns.php b/db_central_columns.php
index 729b608d93..2cf8615786 100644
--- a/db_central_columns.php
+++ b/db_central_columns.php
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ if (isset($_POST['populateColumns'])) {
     exit;
 }
 if (isset($_POST['getColumnList'])) {
-    $response->addJSON($controller->getColumnList([
+    $response->addJSON('message', $controller->getColumnList([
         'cur_table' => $_POST['cur_table'] ?? null,
     ]));
     exit;
diff --git a/js/functions.js b/js/functions.js
index cf973b5c99..a680840b17 100644
--- a/js/functions.js
+++ b/js/functions.js
@@ -3561,7 +3561,7 @@ AJAX.registerOnload('functions.js', function () {
                 url: href,
                 data: params,
                 success: function (data) {
-                    centralColumnList[db + '_' + table] = JSON.parse(data.message);
+                    centralColumnList[db + '_' + table] = data.message;
                 },
                 async:false
             });