diff --git a/modules/dcache-webdav/src/main/java/org/dcache/webdav/DcacheDirectoryResource.java b/modules/dcache-webdav/src/main/java/org/dcache/webdav/DcacheDirectoryResource.java
index 939cb5136ff..8ff2c591e94 100644
--- a/modules/dcache-webdav/src/main/java/org/dcache/webdav/DcacheDirectoryResource.java
+++ b/modules/dcache-webdav/src/main/java/org/dcache/webdav/DcacheDirectoryResource.java
@@ -101,15 +101,13 @@ public List<? extends Resource> getChildren() {
             // Theoretically, we should throw NotAuthorizedException here.  The
             // problem is that Milton reacts badly to this, and aborts the whole
             // PROPFIND request, even if the affected directory is not the primary
-            // one.  Milton accepts a null response as equivalent to
-            // Collections.emptyList()
-            return null;
+            // one.
+            return Collections.emptyList();
         } catch (CacheException | InterruptedException e) {
             // We currently have no way to indicate a temporary failure for this
             // directory and throwing any kind of exception will abort the whole
-            // PROPFIND request; therefore, we return null.  Milton accepts a
-            // null response as equivalent to Collections.emptyList()
-            return null;
+            // PROPFIND request; therefore, we return an empty list.
+            return Collections.emptyList();
         }
     }