diff --git a/docs/VictoriaLogs/CHANGELOG.md b/docs/VictoriaLogs/CHANGELOG.md
index 66418ffe4..f708ef8f8 100644
--- a/docs/VictoriaLogs/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/docs/VictoriaLogs/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ according to [these docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/quicksta
 
 ## tip
 
+* FEATURE: allow specifying fields, which must be packed into JSON in [`pack_json` pipe](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/logsql/#pack_json-pipe) via `pack_json fields (field1, ..., fieldN)` syntax.
+
 ## [v0.13.0](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases/tag/v0.13.0-victorialogs)
 
 Released at 2024-05-28
diff --git a/docs/VictoriaLogs/LogsQL.md b/docs/VictoriaLogs/LogsQL.md
index 72317d1a4..ba80f23c2 100644
--- a/docs/VictoriaLogs/LogsQL.md
+++ b/docs/VictoriaLogs/LogsQL.md
@@ -1560,7 +1560,7 @@ See also:
 ### math pipe
 
 `| math ...` [pipe](#pipes) performs mathematical calculations over numeric values stored in [log fields](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/keyconcepts/#data-model).
-For example, the following query divides `duration_msecs` field value by 1000, then rounds them to integer and stores the result in the `duration_secs` field:
+For example, the following query divides `duration_msecs` field value by 1000, then rounds it to integer and stores the result in the `duration_secs` field:
 
 ```logsql
 _time:5m | math round(duration_msecs / 1000) as duration_secs
@@ -1639,7 +1639,14 @@ The following query is equivalent to the previous one:
 _time:5m | pack_json
 ```
 
-The `pack_json` doesn't touch other labels. If you do not need them, then add [`| fields ...`](#fields-pipe) after the `pack_json` pipe. For example, the following query
+If only a subset of labels must be packed into JSON, then it must be listed inside `fields (...)` after `pack_json`. For example, the following query builds JSON with `foo` and `bar` fields
+only and stores the result in `baz` field:
+
+```logsql
+_time:5m | pack_json fields (foo, bar) as baz
+```
+
+The `pack_json` doesn't modify or delete other labels. If you do not need them, then add [`| fields ...`](#fields-pipe) after the `pack_json` pipe. For example, the following query
 leaves only the `foo` label with the original log fields packed into JSON:
 
 ```logsql
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json.go b/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json.go
index d320fb6fb..af44c8750 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package logstorage
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
+	"slices"
 	"unsafe"
 
 	"github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/lib/bytesutil"
@@ -12,10 +13,15 @@ import (
 // See https://docs.victoriametrics.com/victorialogs/logsql/#pack_json-pipe
 type pipePackJSON struct {
 	resultField string
+
+	fields []string
 }
 
 func (pp *pipePackJSON) String() string {
 	s := "pack_json"
+	if len(pp.fields) > 0 {
+		s += " fields (" + fieldsToString(pp.fields) + ")"
+	}
 	if !isMsgFieldName(pp.resultField) {
 		s += " as " + quoteTokenIfNeeded(pp.resultField)
 	}
@@ -25,11 +31,19 @@ func (pp *pipePackJSON) String() string {
 func (pp *pipePackJSON) updateNeededFields(neededFields, unneededFields fieldsSet) {
 	if neededFields.contains("*") {
 		if !unneededFields.contains(pp.resultField) {
-			unneededFields.reset()
+			if len(pp.fields) > 0 {
+				unneededFields.removeFields(pp.fields)
+			} else {
+				unneededFields.reset()
+			}
 		}
 	} else {
 		if neededFields.contains(pp.resultField) {
-			neededFields.add("*")
+			if len(pp.fields) > 0 {
+				neededFields.addFields(pp.fields)
+			} else {
+				neededFields.add("*")
+			}
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -74,6 +88,8 @@ type pipePackJSONProcessorShardNopad struct {
 
 	buf    []byte
 	fields []Field
+
+	cs []*blockResultColumn
 }
 
 func (ppp *pipePackJSONProcessor) writeBlock(workerID uint, br *blockResult) {
@@ -85,7 +101,17 @@ func (ppp *pipePackJSONProcessor) writeBlock(workerID uint, br *blockResult) {
 
 	shard.rc.name = ppp.pp.resultField
 
-	cs := br.getColumns()
+	cs := shard.cs[:0]
+	if len(ppp.pp.fields) == 0 {
+		csAll := br.getColumns()
+		cs = append(cs, csAll...)
+	} else {
+		for _, f := range ppp.pp.fields {
+			c := br.getColumnByName(f)
+			cs = append(cs, c)
+		}
+	}
+	shard.cs = cs
 
 	buf := shard.buf[:0]
 	fields := shard.fields
@@ -122,10 +148,25 @@ func parsePackJSON(lex *lexer) (*pipePackJSON, error) {
 	}
 	lex.nextToken()
 
+	var fields []string
+	if lex.isKeyword("fields") {
+		lex.nextToken()
+		fs, err := parseFieldNamesInParens(lex)
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse fields: %w", err)
+		}
+		if slices.Contains(fs, "*") {
+			fs = nil
+		}
+		fields = fs
+	}
+
 	// parse optional 'as ...` part
 	resultField := "_msg"
 	if lex.isKeyword("as") {
 		lex.nextToken()
+	}
+	if !lex.isKeyword("|", ")", "") {
 		field, err := parseFieldName(lex)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("cannot parse result field for 'pack_json': %w", err)
@@ -135,6 +176,7 @@ func parsePackJSON(lex *lexer) (*pipePackJSON, error) {
 
 	pp := &pipePackJSON{
 		resultField: resultField,
+		fields:      fields,
 	}
 
 	return pp, nil
diff --git a/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json_test.go b/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json_test.go
index baf137447..b57f150c8 100644
--- a/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json_test.go
+++ b/lib/logstorage/pipe_pack_json_test.go
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ func TestParsePipePackJSONSuccess(t *testing.T) {
 
 	f(`pack_json`)
 	f(`pack_json as x`)
+	f(`pack_json fields (a, b)`)
+	f(`pack_json fields (a, b) as x`)
 }
 
 func TestParsePipePackJSONFailure(t *testing.T) {
@@ -21,6 +23,7 @@ func TestParsePipePackJSONFailure(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	f(`pack_json foo bar`)
+	f(`pack_json fields`)
 }
 
 func TestPipePackJSON(t *testing.T) {
@@ -76,6 +79,30 @@ func TestPipePackJSON(t *testing.T) {
 			{"c", "d"},
 		},
 	})
+
+	// pack only the needed fields
+	f(`pack_json fields (foo, baz) a`, [][]Field{
+		{
+			{"_msg", "x"},
+			{"foo", `abc`},
+			{"bar", `cde`},
+		},
+		{
+			{"a", "b"},
+			{"c", "d"},
+		},
+	}, [][]Field{
+		{
+			{"_msg", `x`},
+			{"foo", `abc`},
+			{"bar", `cde`},
+			{"a", `{"foo":"abc","baz":""}`},
+		},
+		{
+			{"a", `{"foo":"","baz":""}`},
+			{"c", "d"},
+		},
+	})
 }
 
 func TestPipePackJSONUpdateNeededFields(t *testing.T) {