diff --git a/include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index 619048a35..7f11cc4e0 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -2111,20 +2111,46 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with a string argument with " + std::string(type_name()), *this));
     }
 
+    template<typename T>
+    using Alias = T;
+
     /// @brief access specified object element
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/
     template<typename T, std::size_t n>
-    reference operator[](T * (&key)[n])
+    reference operator[](Alias<T[n]> const& key)
     {
-        return operator[](static_cast<const T>(key));
+        // implicitly convert null value to an empty object
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value.object = create<object_t>();
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // operator[] only works for objects
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(is_object()))
+        {
+            auto result = m_value.object->emplace(key, nullptr);
+            return set_parent(result.first->second);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with a string argument with " + std::string(type_name()), *this));
     }
 
     /// @brief access specified object element
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/
     template<typename T, std::size_t n>
-    const_reference operator[](T * (&key)[n]) const
+    const_reference operator[](Alias<T[n]> const& key) const
     {
-        return operator[](static_cast<const T>(key));
+        // operator[] only works for objects
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(is_object()))
+        {
+            auto it = m_value.object->find(key);
+            JSON_ASSERT(it != m_value.object->end());
+            return it->second;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with a string argument with " + std::string(type_name()), *this));
     }
 
     /// @brief access specified object element with default value
diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index 47494a492..983060395 100644
--- a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -19300,20 +19300,46 @@ class basic_json // NOLINT(cppcoreguidelines-special-member-functions,hicpp-spec
         JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with a string argument with " + std::string(type_name()), *this));
     }
 
+    template<typename T>
+    using Alias = T;
+
     /// @brief access specified object element
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/
     template<typename T, std::size_t n>
-    reference operator[](T * (&key)[n])
+    reference operator[](Alias<T[n]> const& key)
     {
-        return operator[](static_cast<const T>(key));
+        // implicitly convert null value to an empty object
+        if (is_null())
+        {
+            m_type = value_t::object;
+            m_value.object = create<object_t>();
+            assert_invariant();
+        }
+
+        // operator[] only works for objects
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(is_object()))
+        {
+            auto result = m_value.object->emplace(key, nullptr);
+            return set_parent(result.first->second);
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with a string argument with " + std::string(type_name()), *this));
     }
 
     /// @brief access specified object element
     /// @sa https://json.nlohmann.me/api/basic_json/operator%5B%5D/
     template<typename T, std::size_t n>
-    const_reference operator[](T * (&key)[n]) const
+    const_reference operator[](Alias<T[n]> const& key) const
     {
-        return operator[](static_cast<const T>(key));
+        // operator[] only works for objects
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_LIKELY(is_object()))
+        {
+            auto it = m_value.object->find(key);
+            JSON_ASSERT(it != m_value.object->end());
+            return it->second;
+        }
+
+        JSON_THROW(type_error::create(305, "cannot use operator[] with a string argument with " + std::string(type_name()), *this));
     }
 
     /// @brief access specified object element with default value