diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 397831439..588fdbb30 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+### v1.13.3
+
+- Fixed backfill for migration (#846)
+
 ### v1.13.2
 
 - Fixed 404 API calls redirecting to 404 page (#762)
diff --git a/util/migrate/backfill_v1_metadata.py b/util/migrate/backfill_v1_metadata.py
index 28dda6827..e9de7e9a2 100644
--- a/util/migrate/backfill_v1_metadata.py
+++ b/util/migrate/backfill_v1_metadata.py
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ def backfill_v1_metadata():
           try:
             data = storage.get_content(repo_image.storage.locations, json_path)
           except IOError:
-            data = None
-            logger.exception('failed to find v1 metadata, defaulting to None')
+            data = "{}"
+            logger.warning('failed to find v1 metadata, defaulting to {}')
           repo_image.v1_json_metadata = data
           repo_image.save()
         except ImageStoragePlacement.DoesNotExist: