diff --git a/tools/index_metadata.py b/tools/index_metadata.py
index 2be4ff59..5a1c2b58 100644
--- a/tools/index_metadata.py
+++ b/tools/index_metadata.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import otc_metadata
 import argparse
 import logging
 from opensearchpy import OpenSearch
+import json
 
 
 metadata = otc_metadata.Services()
@@ -116,7 +117,7 @@ def generate_os_host_list(hosts):
 
 
 def create_index(client, index, data):
-    return client.indices.create(index, body=data)
+    return client.indices.create(index, body=json.dumps(data))
 
 
 def delete_index(client, index):