diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayType.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayType.php
index d54ab166c03..79c3259411b 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayType.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayType.php
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public function convertToDatabaseValue($value, AbstractPlatform $platform)
      */
     public function convertToPHPValue($value, AbstractPlatform $platform)
     {
-        if ($value === null) {
+        if ($value === null || $value === '') {
             return array();
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayTest.php b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayTest.php
index 4d172a24242..0d1d29e7db0 100644
--- a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayTest.php
+++ b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Types/JsonArrayTest.php
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ public function testJsonNullConvertsToPHPValue()
         $this->assertSame(array(), $this->type->convertToPHPValue(null, $this->platform));
     }
 
+    public function testJsonEmptyStringConvertsToPHPValue()
+    {
+        $this->assertSame(array(), $this->type->convertToPHPValue('', $this->platform));
+    }
+
     public function testJsonStringConvertsToPHPValue()
     {
         $value         = array('foo' => 'bar', 'bar' => 'foo');