diff --git a/dataext/optional.go b/dataext/optional.go
index f4bad9a..7f2a4a3 100644
--- a/dataext/optional.go
+++ b/dataext/optional.go
@@ -16,10 +16,6 @@ func (m JsonOpt[T]) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 		return []byte("null"), nil // actually this would be undefined - but undefined is not valid JSON
 	}
 
-	if m.value == nil {
-		return []byte("null"), nil
-	}
-
 	return json.Marshal(m.value)
 }
 
diff --git a/goextVersion.go b/goextVersion.go
index 330419b..7310ac2 100644
--- a/goextVersion.go
+++ b/goextVersion.go
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 package goext
 
-const GoextVersion = "0.0.421"
+const GoextVersion = "0.0.422"
 
-const GoextVersionTimestamp = "2024-03-23T20:28:51+0100"
+const GoextVersionTimestamp = "2024-03-23T20:29:46+0100"