diff --git a/github/repos.go b/github/repos.go
index 499ed677866..45fd1888d59 100644
--- a/github/repos.go
+++ b/github/repos.go
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ type RequiredStatusChecks struct {
 	Contexts []string `json:"contexts,omitempty"`
 	// The list of status checks to require in order to merge into this
 	// branch.
-	Checks []*RequiredStatusCheck `json:"checks,omitempty"`
+	Checks []*RequiredStatusCheck `json:"checks"`
 }
 
 // RequiredStatusChecksRequest represents a request to edit a protected branch's status checks.
diff --git a/github/repos_test.go b/github/repos_test.go
index 6b8cbbd22ba..95920155a33 100644
--- a/github/repos_test.go
+++ b/github/repos_test.go
@@ -1543,6 +1543,130 @@ func TestRepositoriesService_UpdateBranchProtection_Checks(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestRepositoriesService_UpdateBranchProtection_StrictNoChecks(t *testing.T) {
+	client, mux, _, teardown := setup()
+	defer teardown()
+
+	input := &ProtectionRequest{
+		RequiredStatusChecks: &RequiredStatusChecks{
+			Strict: true,
+			Checks: []*RequiredStatusCheck{},
+		},
+		RequiredPullRequestReviews: &PullRequestReviewsEnforcementRequest{
+			DismissStaleReviews: true,
+			DismissalRestrictionsRequest: &DismissalRestrictionsRequest{
+				Users: &[]string{"uu"},
+				Teams: &[]string{"tt"},
+			},
+			BypassPullRequestAllowancesRequest: &BypassPullRequestAllowancesRequest{
+				Users: []string{"uuu"},
+				Teams: []string{"ttt"},
+				Apps:  []string{"aaa"},
+			},
+		},
+		Restrictions: &BranchRestrictionsRequest{
+			Users: []string{"u"},
+			Teams: []string{"t"},
+			Apps:  []string{"a"},
+		},
+	}
+
+	mux.HandleFunc("/repos/o/r/branches/b/protection", func(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
+		v := new(ProtectionRequest)
+		json.NewDecoder(r.Body).Decode(v)
+
+		testMethod(t, r, "PUT")
+		if !cmp.Equal(v, input) {
+			t.Errorf("Request body = %+v, want %+v", v, input)
+		}
+
+		// TODO: remove custom Accept header when this API fully launches
+		testHeader(t, r, "Accept", mediaTypeRequiredApprovingReviewsPreview)
+		fmt.Fprintf(w, `{
+			"required_status_checks":{
+				"strict":true,
+				"contexts":[],
+				"checks": []
+			},
+			"required_pull_request_reviews":{
+				"dismissal_restrictions":{
+					"users":[{
+						"id":3,
+						"login":"uu"
+					}],
+					"teams":[{
+						"id":4,
+						"slug":"tt"
+					}]
+				},
+				"dismiss_stale_reviews":true,
+				"require_code_owner_reviews":true,
+				"bypass_pull_request_allowances": {
+					"users":[{"id":10,"login":"uuu"}],
+					"teams":[{"id":20,"slug":"ttt"}],
+					"apps":[{"id":30,"slug":"aaa"}]
+				}
+			},
+			"restrictions":{
+				"users":[{"id":1,"login":"u"}],
+				"teams":[{"id":2,"slug":"t"}],
+				"apps":[{"id":3,"slug":"a"}]
+			}
+		}`)
+	})
+
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	protection, _, err := client.Repositories.UpdateBranchProtection(ctx, "o", "r", "b", input)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Repositories.UpdateBranchProtection returned error: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	want := &Protection{
+		RequiredStatusChecks: &RequiredStatusChecks{
+			Strict:   true,
+			Contexts: []string{},
+			Checks:   []*RequiredStatusCheck{},
+		},
+		RequiredPullRequestReviews: &PullRequestReviewsEnforcement{
+			DismissStaleReviews: true,
+			DismissalRestrictions: &DismissalRestrictions{
+				Users: []*User{
+					{Login: String("uu"), ID: Int64(3)},
+				},
+				Teams: []*Team{
+					{Slug: String("tt"), ID: Int64(4)},
+				},
+			},
+			RequireCodeOwnerReviews: true,
+			BypassPullRequestAllowances: &BypassPullRequestAllowances{
+				Users: []*User{
+					{Login: String("uuu"), ID: Int64(10)},
+				},
+				Teams: []*Team{
+					{Slug: String("ttt"), ID: Int64(20)},
+				},
+				Apps: []*App{
+					{Slug: String("aaa"), ID: Int64(30)},
+				},
+			},
+		},
+		Restrictions: &BranchRestrictions{
+			Users: []*User{
+				{Login: String("u"), ID: Int64(1)},
+			},
+			Teams: []*Team{
+				{Slug: String("t"), ID: Int64(2)},
+			},
+			Apps: []*App{
+				{Slug: String("a"), ID: Int64(3)},
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	if !cmp.Equal(protection, want) {
+		t.Errorf("Repositories.UpdateBranchProtection returned %+v, want %+v", protection, want)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestRepositoriesService_RemoveBranchProtection(t *testing.T) {
 	client, mux, _, teardown := setup()
 	defer teardown()