diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/decoder_json.go b/pkg/yqlib/decoder_json.go
index 35da646775..cd8cf5ccf0 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/decoder_json.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/decoder_json.go
@@ -46,6 +46,9 @@ func (dec *jsonDecoder) Decode() (*CandidateNode, error) {
 }
 
 func (dec *jsonDecoder) convertToYamlNode(data *orderedMap) (*yaml.Node, error) {
+	if data == nil {
+		return createScalarNode(nil, "null"), nil
+	}
 	if data.kv == nil {
 		switch rawData := data.altVal.(type) {
 		case nil: