diff --git a/data/model/user.py b/data/model/user.py
index 28942898b..7f98a99a9 100644
--- a/data/model/user.py
+++ b/data/model/user.py
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ def create_robot(robot_shortname, parent, description='', unstructured_metadata=
 
 
 def get_or_create_robot_metadata(robot):
-  defaults = dict(description='', unstructured_json='{}')
+  defaults = dict(description='', unstructured_json={})
   metadata, _ = RobotAccountMetadata.get_or_create(robot_account=robot, defaults=defaults)
   return metadata