diff --git a/src/parser_json.c b/src/parser_json.c
index 4c3e2aa..02428af 100644
--- a/src/parser_json.c
+++ b/src/parser_json.c
@@ -1422,8 +1422,8 @@
     LY_CHECK_GOTO(ret, cleanup);
 
     status = lyjson_ctx_status(lydctx->jsonctx, 0);
-    LY_CHECK_GOTO(status == LYJSON_END, cleanup);
-    assert(status == LYJSON_OBJECT);
+    LY_CHECK_GOTO(status == LYJSON_END || status == LYJSON_OBJECT_EMPTY, cleanup);
+    assert((status == LYJSON_OBJECT));
 
     /* read subtree(s) */
     while (lydctx->jsonctx->in->current[0] && status != LYJSON_OBJECT_CLOSED) {