diff --git a/packages/api/src/controllers/files.js b/packages/api/src/controllers/files.js
index 3d42962ae..ae38487e8 100644
--- a/packages/api/src/controllers/files.js
+++ b/packages/api/src/controllers/files.js
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ module.exports = {
 
   markdownManifest_meta: 'get',
   async markdownManifest() {
-    if (!hasPermission(`files/markdown/write`)) return {};
+    if (!hasPermission(`files/markdown/write`)) return [];
     const dir = path.join(filesdir(), 'markdown');
-    if (!(await fs.exists(dir))) return {};
+    if (!(await fs.exists(dir))) return [];
     const files = await fs.readdir(dir);
     const res = [];
     for (const file of files) {