diff --git a/merp.go b/merp.go
index d4527e3..44048fa 100644
--- a/merp.go
+++ b/merp.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func getLatestMerps() gin.HandlerFunc {
 		qs := orm.QueryTable("merp").Filter("thing", thing).OrderBy("-created").Limit(50)
 		qs.All(&merps)
 
-		var output []map[string]interface{}
+		output := make([]map[string]interface{}, 0)
 		for _, merp := range merps {
 			outelem := make(map[string]interface{})
 			outelem["thing"] = merp.Thing