diff --git a/pkg/lint/runner.go b/pkg/lint/runner.go
index 1faeb315a92d..379508ab08e4 100644
--- a/pkg/lint/runner.go
+++ b/pkg/lint/runner.go
@@ -235,6 +235,7 @@ func (r *Runner) processIssues(issues []result.Issue, sw *timeutils.Stopwatch, s
 			issues = newIssues
 		}
 
+		// This is required by JSON serialization
 		if issues == nil {
 			issues = []result.Issue{}
 		}