diff --git a/ceilometer/publisher/file.py b/ceilometer/publisher/file.py
index b15df7f05e..3e193afb10 100644
--- a/ceilometer/publisher/file.py
+++ b/ceilometer/publisher/file.py
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ class FilePublisher(publisher.ConfigPublisherBase):
         if self.publisher_logger:
             for event in events:
                 if self.output_json:
-                    self.publisher_logger.info(json.dumps(event.as_dict()))
+                    self.publisher_logger.info(json.dumps(event.as_dict(),
+                                                          default=str))
                 else:
                     self.publisher_logger.info(event.as_dict())
diff --git a/setup.cfg b/setup.cfg
index bf934dc013..6e1692cf2e 100644
--- a/setup.cfg
+++ b/setup.cfg
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ ceilometer.event.publisher =
     https = ceilometer.publisher.http:HttpPublisher
     gnocchi = ceilometer.publisher.gnocchi:GnocchiPublisher
     zaqar = ceilometer.publisher.zaqar:ZaqarPublisher
+    file = ceilometer.publisher.file:FilePublisher
 
 ceilometer.event.trait_plugin =
     split = ceilometer.event.trait_plugins:SplitterTraitPlugin