diff --git a/frigate/http.py b/frigate/http.py
index 3e6e4b015..f8d3e6325 100644
--- a/frigate/http.py
+++ b/frigate/http.py
@@ -1007,9 +1007,9 @@ def vainfo():
             "return_code": vainfo.returncode,
             "stderr": vainfo.stderr.decode("unicode_escape").strip()
             if vainfo.stderr.decode()
-            else {},
+            else "",
             "stdout": vainfo.stdout.decode("unicode_escape").strip()
             if vainfo.stdout.decode()
-            else {},
+            else "",
         }
     )