diff --git a/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/dryrun.go b/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/dryrun.go
index eb3ea0449e81..20b02b659180 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/dryrun.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/dryrun.go
@@ -175,9 +175,12 @@ func dryRunSSAPatch(ctx context.Context, dryRunCtx *dryRunSSAPatchInput) (bool,
 			ShouldFilter: ssa.IsPathIgnored([]contract.Path{[]string{"metadata", "managedFields"}}),
 		})
 
-		changes, err = json.Marshal(diff.Object)
-		if err != nil {
-			return false, false, nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to marshal diff")
+		// changes should be empty (not "{}") if diff.Object is empty
+		if len(diff.Object) != 0 {
+			changes, err = json.Marshal(diff.Object)
+			if err != nil {
+				return false, false, nil, errors.Wrapf(err, "failed to marshal diff")
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/serversidepathhelper_test.go b/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/serversidepathhelper_test.go
index e962c4da38ee..a183dea774ef 100644
--- a/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/serversidepathhelper_test.go
+++ b/internal/controllers/topology/cluster/structuredmerge/serversidepathhelper_test.go
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ func TestServerSideApply(t *testing.T) {
 		g.Expect(err).ToNot(HaveOccurred())
 		g.Expect(p0.HasChanges()).To(BeTrue())
 		g.Expect(p0.HasSpecChanges()).To(BeFalse())
-		g.Expect(p0.Changes()).To(Equal([]byte(`{}`))) // Note: metadata.managedFields have been removed from the diff to reduce log verbosity.
+		g.Expect(p0.Changes()).To(BeEmpty()) // Note: metadata.managedFields have been removed from the diff to reduce log verbosity.
 
 		// Create the object using server side apply
 		g.Expect(p0.Patch(ctx)).To(Succeed())