diff --git a/src/main/java/io/apicurio/datamodels/cmd/commands/ChangePayloadRefCommand_Aai20.java b/src/main/java/io/apicurio/datamodels/cmd/commands/ChangePayloadRefCommand_Aai20.java
index 398b84a5..785b06d9 100755
--- a/src/main/java/io/apicurio/datamodels/cmd/commands/ChangePayloadRefCommand_Aai20.java
+++ b/src/main/java/io/apicurio/datamodels/cmd/commands/ChangePayloadRefCommand_Aai20.java
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ public void execute(Document document) {
       Object payload = message.payload;
       if (payload == null) {
          payload = JsonCompat.objectNode();
+         message.payload = payload;
       }
       Object oldValue = JsonCompat.getProperty(payload, "$ref");
       if (oldValue != null && JsonCompat.isString(oldValue)) {