diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 34e7c34..71ce895 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 # direnv.nvim
 
+[direnv]: https://direnv.net/
+
 Dead simple Neovim plugin to add automatic Direnv loading, inspired by
 `direnv.vim` and written in Lua for better performance and maintainability.
 
@@ -15,13 +17,14 @@ Dead simple Neovim plugin to add automatic Direnv loading, inspired by
 
 ### 📓 TODO
 
-There are things direnv.nvim can _not_ yet do. Mainly, we would like to
-integrate Treesitter for **syntax highlighting** similar to direnv.vim.
-Unfortunately there isn't a TS grammar for Direnv, but we can port syntax.vim
-from direnv.vim.
+`direnv.nvim` is generally feature complete. There are no major planned
+features, and it should be considered stable for the most part. What
+`direnv.nvim` _cannot_ do yet is **syntax highlighting** similar to `direnv.vim`
+but this is planned to be remedied through either using Treesitter, or by
+porting `direnv.vim`'s syntax.vim.'
 
-Additionally, it might be worth adding an option to allow direnv on, e.g.,
-VimEnter if the user has configured to do so.
+Feature requests are welcome. Please create an issue to describe the feature
+that you would like to see.
 
 ## 📦 Installation
 
@@ -31,7 +34,7 @@ You will need to call the setup function to load the plugin.
 ### Prerequisites
 
 - Neovim 0.8.0 or higher
-- [direnv](https://direnv.net/) installed and available in your PATH
+- [direnv] v2.33.0 or later installed and available in your PATH
 
 ### Using lazy.nvim
 
diff --git a/lua/direnv.lua b/lua/direnv.lua
index a4609e0..927932b 100644
--- a/lua/direnv.lua
+++ b/lua/direnv.lua
@@ -164,6 +164,14 @@ M._get_rc_status = function(callback)
 
       local ok, status = pcall(vim.json.decode, obj.stdout)
       if not ok or not status or not status.state then
+         vim.schedule(function()
+            notify(
+               "Failed to parse direnv status. Your version of direnv may not support JSON output. "
+                  .. "Please ensure you have direnv v2.33.0 or later installed. "
+                  .. "You can verify by running: direnv status --json",
+               vim.log.levels.ERROR
+            )
+         end)
          for _, cb in ipairs(pending_callbacks) do
             cb(nil, nil)
          end
@@ -199,6 +207,11 @@ M._get_rc_status = function(callback)
    )
 end
 
+M.refresh_status = function()
+   cache.status = nil
+   M._get_rc_status(function() end)
+end
+
 --- Initialize direnv for current directory
 --- @param path string Path to .envrc file
 M._init = function(path)
@@ -224,32 +237,39 @@ M._init = function(path)
       end
 
       vim.schedule(function()
-         local env_commands = vim.split(obj.stdout, "\n")
-         if #env_commands > 0 then
-            for _, cmd in ipairs(env_commands) do
-               if cmd ~= "" then
-                  pcall(function()
-                     vim.cmd(cmd)
-                  end)
-               end
-            end
+         local ok, env = pcall(vim.json.decode, obj.stdout)
 
-            if not silent then
-               notify(
-                  "direnv environment loaded successfully",
-                  vim.log.levels.INFO
-               )
+         if not ok or type(env) ~= "table" then
+            notify("Failed to parse direnv JSON output", vim.log.levels.ERROR)
+            return
+         end
+
+         for key, value in pairs(env) do
+            if value == vim.NIL or value == nil then
+               vim.env[key] = nil
+            else
+               if type(value) ~= "string" then
+                  value = tostring(value)
+               end
+               vim.env[key] = value
             end
-            vim.api.nvim_exec_autocmds(
-               "User",
-               { pattern = "DirenvLoaded", modeline = false }
+         end
+
+         if not silent then
+            notify(
+               "direnv environment loaded successfully",
+               vim.log.levels.INFO
             )
          end
+         vim.api.nvim_exec_autocmds(
+            "User",
+            { pattern = "DirenvLoaded", modeline = false }
+         )
       end)
    end
 
    vim.system(
-      { M.config.bin, "export", "vim" },
+      { M.config.bin, "export", "json" },
       { text = true, cwd = cwd },
       on_exit
    )
@@ -609,7 +629,7 @@ M.setup = function(user_config)
       pattern = ".envrc",
       group = group_id,
       callback = function()
-         cache.status = nil
+         M.refresh_status()
          notify(
             ".envrc file changed. Run :Direnv allow to activate changes.",
             vim.log.levels.INFO
@@ -619,8 +639,7 @@ M.setup = function(user_config)
 
    -- Expose a command to refresh the statusline value without triggering reload
    vim.api.nvim_create_user_command("DirenvStatuslineRefresh", function()
-      cache.last_check = 0
-      M._get_rc_status(function() end)
+      M.refresh_status()
    end, {})
 
    M._get_rc_status(function() end)