diff --git a/code/__HELPERS/jatum.dm b/code/__HELPERS/jatum.dm
index aaea50e8f4b..25cdf22fd57 100644
--- a/code/__HELPERS/jatum.dm
+++ b/code/__HELPERS/jatum.dm
@@ -80,15 +80,13 @@
 		// Serialize all lists as dicts, list("a") and list("a" = null) can't be differentiated in DM
 		var/list_contents = list()
 		for(var/key in value)
-			var/got_l_value
 			var/l_value
 			try
 				l_value = value[key]
-				got_l_value = TRUE
 			catch
 				// Expected, indicates a flat list
 
-			if(got_l_value)
+			if(!isnull(l_value))
 				list_contents += list(list(
 					"key" = _jatum_serialize_value(key, seen_references),
 					"value" = _jatum_serialize_value(l_value, seen_references)