diff --git a/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DriverStation.cpp b/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DriverStation.cpp
index 04ea4b9d9f..16032a17d3 100644
--- a/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DriverStation.cpp
+++ b/wpilibc/src/main/native/cpp/DriverStation.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class MatchDataSenderEntry {
   MatchDataSenderEntry(const std::shared_ptr<nt::NetworkTable>& table,
                        std::string_view key,
                        typename Topic::ParamType initialVal,
-                       wpi::json topicProperties = {{}})
+                       wpi::json topicProperties = wpi::json::object())
       : publisher{Topic{table->GetTopic(key)}.PublishEx(Topic::kTypeString,
                                                         topicProperties)},
         prevVal{initialVal} {