diff --git a/pgtype/int8.go b/pgtype/int8.go
index 17a676eb..00a8cd00 100644
--- a/pgtype/int8.go
+++ b/pgtype/int8.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package pgtype
 import (
 	"database/sql/driver"
 	"encoding/binary"
+	"encoding/json"
 	"math"
 	"strconv"
 
@@ -184,3 +185,15 @@ func (src *Int8) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 
 	return nil, errBadStatus
 }
+
+func (dst *Int8) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
+	var n int64
+	err := json.Unmarshal(b, &n)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	*dst = Int8{Int: n, Status: Present}
+
+	return nil
+}