diff --git a/internal/api/client/instance/instancepatch_test.go b/internal/api/client/instance/instancepatch_test.go
index d84df499c..60c29c0f2 100644
--- a/internal/api/client/instance/instancepatch_test.go
+++ b/internal/api/client/instance/instancepatch_test.go
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ func (suite *InstancePatchTestSuite) TestInstancePatch1() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is the GoToSocial testrig. It doesn't federate or anything.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the testrig is shut down, all data on it will be deleted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't use this in production!\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "someone@example.org",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,
@@ -184,6 +185,7 @@ func (suite *InstancePatchTestSuite) TestInstancePatch2() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is the GoToSocial testrig. It doesn't federate or anything.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the testrig is shut down, all data on it will be deleted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't use this in production!\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "admin@example.org",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,
@@ -286,6 +288,7 @@ func (suite *InstancePatchTestSuite) TestInstancePatch3() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is some html, which is \u003cem\u003eallowed\u003c/em\u003e in short descriptions.\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "admin@example.org",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,
@@ -439,6 +442,7 @@ func (suite *InstancePatchTestSuite) TestInstancePatch6() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is the GoToSocial testrig. It doesn't federate or anything.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the testrig is shut down, all data on it will be deleted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't use this in production!\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,
@@ -563,6 +567,7 @@ func (suite *InstancePatchTestSuite) TestInstancePatch8() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is the GoToSocial testrig. It doesn't federate or anything.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the testrig is shut down, all data on it will be deleted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't use this in production!\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "admin@example.org",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,
@@ -702,6 +707,7 @@ func (suite *InstancePatchTestSuite) TestInstancePatch9() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is the GoToSocial testrig. It doesn't federate or anything.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the testrig is shut down, all data on it will be deleted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't use this in production!\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "admin@example.org",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,
diff --git a/internal/api/model/instancev1.go b/internal/api/model/instancev1.go
index 3037289a7..19682c1f1 100644
--- a/internal/api/model/instancev1.go
+++ b/internal/api/model/instancev1.go
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ type InstanceV1 struct {
 	Version string `json:"version"`
 	// Primary language of the instance.
 	// example: en
-	Languages []string `json:"languages,omitempty"`
+	Languages []string `json:"languages"`
 	// New account registrations are enabled on this instance.
 	Registrations bool `json:"registrations"`
 	// New account registrations require admin approval.
diff --git a/internal/typeutils/internaltofrontend_test.go b/internal/typeutils/internaltofrontend_test.go
index 993dc920b..1fb601260 100644
--- a/internal/typeutils/internaltofrontend_test.go
+++ b/internal/typeutils/internaltofrontend_test.go
@@ -497,6 +497,7 @@ func (suite *InternalToFrontendTestSuite) TestInstanceV1ToFrontend() {
   "short_description": "\u003cp\u003eThis is the GoToSocial testrig. It doesn't federate or anything.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the testrig is shut down, all data on it will be deleted.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eDon't use this in production!\u003c/p\u003e",
   "email": "admin@example.org",
   "version": "0.0.0-testrig",
+  "languages": [],
   "registrations": true,
   "approval_required": true,
   "invites_enabled": false,