diff --git a/app/controllers/people_controller.rb b/app/controllers/people_controller.rb
index 4c186569f..ec9826967 100644
--- a/app/controllers/people_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/people_controller.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ class PeopleController < ApplicationController
       render :index
     else
       @people = Person.search_for_friends(params[:q])
-      render :xml => @people
+      render :json => @people.to_json(:only => :_id)
     end
   end