diff --git a/.github/workflows/elps.yml b/.github/workflows/elps.yml
index 50ba508..a88ef0b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/elps.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/elps.yml
@@ -7,13 +7,13 @@ jobs:
   build:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     container:
-      image: golang:1.20
+      image: golang:1.22
     steps:
-    - uses: actions/checkout@v3.5.0
-    - name: Install golangci-lint
-      run: wget -O- -nv https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s "v${GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION}"
-      env:
-        GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION: 1.52.2
-        BINDIR: /usr/local/bin
-    - name: Run static checks and CI tests
-      run: make static-checks citest
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v3.5.0
+      - name: Install golangci-lint
+        run: wget -O- -nv https://raw.githubusercontent.com/golangci/golangci-lint/master/install.sh | sh -s "v${GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION}"
+        env:
+          GOLANGCI_LINT_VERSION: 1.57.2
+          BINDIR: /usr/local/bin
+      - name: Run static checks and CI tests
+        run: make static-checks citest
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index 71326a5..b6f703e 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 module github.com/luthersystems/elps
 
-go 1.21
+go 1.22
 
 require (
 	github.com/chzyer/readline v1.5.0
diff --git a/lisp/lisplib/libjson/encode.go b/lisp/lisplib/libjson/encode.go
index d82830e..ce27e43 100644
--- a/lisp/lisplib/libjson/encode.go
+++ b/lisp/lisplib/libjson/encode.go
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ func (enc *encoder) encodeBytes(b []byte) (err error) {
 		w := base64.NewEncoder(enc64, &enc.buf)
 		for len(b) > 0 {
 			// This clobbers the variable we were using for encoded-len to save
-			// stack sapce but we don't need that anymore.
+			// stack space but we don't need that anymore.
 			n, _ = w.Write(b)
 			b = b[n:]
 		}
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ func (enc *encoder) encodeLString(v *lisp.LVal) error {
 }
 
 // NOTE:  encodeString adapted from the json package.
-// https://cs.opensource.google/go/go/+/refs/tags/go1.16.4:src/encoding/json/encode.go;l=1029
+// https://cs.opensource.google/go/go/+/refs/tags/go1.22.1:src/encoding/json/encode.go;l=956
 func (enc *encoder) encodeString(s string) error {
 	const hex = "0123456789abcdef"
 	enc.buf.WriteByte('"')
@@ -281,6 +281,10 @@ func (enc *encoder) encodeString(s string) error {
 			switch b {
 			case '\\', '"':
 				enc.buf.WriteByte(b)
+			case '\b':
+				enc.buf.WriteByte('b')
+			case '\f':
+				enc.buf.WriteByte('f')
 			case '\n':
 				enc.buf.WriteByte('n')
 			case '\r':
diff --git a/scripts/static-checks.sh b/scripts/static-checks.sh
index 246487d..97e8d36 100755
--- a/scripts/static-checks.sh
+++ b/scripts/static-checks.sh
@@ -6,4 +6,7 @@
 
 set -exuo pipefail
 
+# work around for golangci-lint -buildvcs=false
+git config --global --add safe.directory $PWD
+golangci-lint version
 golangci-lint run -v