diff --git a/lightrag/kg/json_doc_status_impl.py b/lightrag/kg/json_doc_status_impl.py
index 3a36f58c..bf6e7b17 100644
--- a/lightrag/kg/json_doc_status_impl.py
+++ b/lightrag/kg/json_doc_status_impl.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class JsonDocStatusStorage(DocStatusStorage):
                         f"[{self.workspace}] Reloading sanitized data into shared memory for {self.namespace}"
                     )
                     cleaned_data = load_json(self._file_name)
-                    if cleaned_data:
+                    if cleaned_data is not None:
                         self._data.clear()
                         self._data.update(cleaned_data)
 
diff --git a/lightrag/kg/json_kv_impl.py b/lightrag/kg/json_kv_impl.py
index 3f99dd4d..f9adb20f 100644
--- a/lightrag/kg/json_kv_impl.py
+++ b/lightrag/kg/json_kv_impl.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class JsonKVStorage(BaseKVStorage):
                         f"[{self.workspace}] Reloading sanitized data into shared memory for {self.namespace}"
                     )
                     cleaned_data = load_json(self._file_name)
-                    if cleaned_data:
+                    if cleaned_data is not None:
                         self._data.clear()
                         self._data.update(cleaned_data)
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ class JsonKVStorage(BaseKVStorage):
                     f"[{self.workspace}] Reloading sanitized migration data for {self.namespace}"
                 )
                 cleaned_data = load_json(self._file_name)
-                if cleaned_data:
+                if cleaned_data is not None:
                     return cleaned_data  # Return cleaned data to update shared memory
 
         return migrated_data
diff --git a/tests/test_write_json_optimization.py b/tests/test_write_json_optimization.py
index 9c4105b9..0a92904f 100644
--- a/tests/test_write_json_optimization.py
+++ b/tests/test_write_json_optimization.py
@@ -290,6 +290,55 @@ class TestWriteJsonOptimization:
         finally:
             os.unlink(temp_file)
 
+    def test_empty_values_after_sanitization(self):
+        """Test that data with empty values after sanitization is properly handled
+
+        Critical edge case: When sanitization results in data with empty string values,
+        we must use 'if cleaned_data is not None' instead of 'if cleaned_data' to ensure
+        proper reload, since truthy check on dict depends on content, not just existence.
+        """
+        # Create data where ALL values are only surrogate characters
+        all_dirty_data = {
+            "key1": "\ud800\udc00\ud801",
+            "key2": "\ud802\ud803",
+        }
+
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile(mode="w", delete=False, suffix=".json") as f:
+            temp_file = f.name
+
+        try:
+            # Write dirty data - should trigger sanitization
+            needs_reload = write_json(all_dirty_data, temp_file)
+            assert needs_reload, "All-dirty data should trigger sanitization"
+
+            # Load the sanitized data
+            cleaned_data = load_json(temp_file)
+
+            # Critical assertions for the edge case
+            assert cleaned_data is not None, "Cleaned data should not be None"
+            # Sanitization removes surrogates but preserves keys with empty values
+            assert cleaned_data == {
+                "key1": "",
+                "key2": "",
+            }, "Surrogates should be removed, keys preserved"
+            # This dict is truthy because it has keys (even with empty values)
+            assert cleaned_data, "Dict with keys is truthy"
+
+            # Test the actual edge case: empty dict
+            empty_data = {}
+            needs_reload2 = write_json(empty_data, temp_file)
+            assert not needs_reload2, "Empty dict is clean"
+
+            reloaded_empty = load_json(temp_file)
+            assert reloaded_empty is not None, "Empty dict should not be None"
+            assert reloaded_empty == {}, "Empty dict should remain empty"
+            assert (
+                not reloaded_empty
+            ), "Empty dict evaluates to False (the critical check)"
+
+        finally:
+            os.unlink(temp_file)
+
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     # Run tests
@@ -331,4 +380,8 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
     test.test_migration_with_surrogate_sanitization()
     print("✓ Passed")
 
+    print("Running test_empty_values_after_sanitization...")
+    test.test_empty_values_after_sanitization()
+    print("✓ Passed")
+
     print("\n✅ All tests passed!")