diff --git a/src/debug/HyprCtl.cpp b/src/debug/HyprCtl.cpp
index 2d11df69..5e28b96e 100644
--- a/src/debug/HyprCtl.cpp
+++ b/src/debug/HyprCtl.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,8 @@ R"#({
         }
 
         // remove trailing comma
-        result.pop_back();
+        if (result != "[")
+          result.pop_back();
 
         result += "]";
     } else {