diff --git a/crud.go b/crud.go
index 7310911007..8d2af7267c 100644
--- a/crud.go
+++ b/crud.go
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@ func crud(resource string, example interface{}, repo Repository, r martini.Route
 			r.JSON(500, struct{}{})
 			return
 		}
+		// render an empty JSON array (rather than null) if list is nil
+		if list == nil {
+			list = []struct{}{}
+		}
 		r.JSON(200, list)
 	})