diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index 601b28a06..219a6a480 100644
--- a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -4694,7 +4694,10 @@ template<typename BasicJsonType, typename CompatibleString,
          enable_if_t<std::is_constructible<typename BasicJsonType::string_t, CompatibleString>::value, int> = 0>
 void to_json(BasicJsonType& j, const CompatibleString& s)
 {
-    j.m_value.destroy(j.m_type);
+    if (!j.is_null())
+    {
+        j = nullptr;
+    }
     external_constructor<value_t::string>::construct(j, s);
 }