diff --git a/api/dashboard/list_user.go b/api/dashboard/list_user.go
index d2e8e300a..7fbca2990 100644
--- a/api/dashboard/list_user.go
+++ b/api/dashboard/list_user.go
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ func ListUserDashboards(c *gin.Context) {
 
 	l.Debugf("listing dashboards for user %s", u.GetName())
 
-	var dashCards []types.DashCard
+	dashCards := []types.DashCard{}
 
 	// iterate through user dashboards and build a list of DashCards
 	for _, dashboard := range u.GetDashboards() {