diff --git a/src/middleware/res-goodbye.js b/src/middleware/res-goodbye.js
index 161ebfd..10964f6 100644
--- a/src/middleware/res-goodbye.js
+++ b/src/middleware/res-goodbye.js
@@ -1,24 +1,22 @@
 const debug = require("debug")("Blocks:GoodbyeMiddleware")
 
-import { forEach } from "@mutantlove/m"
+import { forEach, is } from "@mutantlove/m"
 
 module.exports = () => (req, res) => {
   debug(`${req.method}:${req.url} responding with ${res.ctx.status}`)
 
-  const payloadType = typeof res.ctx.payload
+  const payload = is(res.ctx.payload) ? res.ctx.payload : {}
+  const isObject = typeof payload === "object"
   const endAt = process.hrtime(req.ctx.startAt)
 
-  const body =
-    payloadType === "object" ? JSON.stringify(res.ctx.payload) : res.ctx.payload
-  const contentType =
-    payloadType === "object"
-      ? "application/json; charset=utf-8"
-      : "text/plain; charset=utf-8"
+  const body = isObject ? JSON.stringify(payload) : payload
+  const contentType = isObject
+    ? "application/json; charset=utf-8"
+    : "text/plain; charset=utf-8"
 
   forEach(([name, value]) => res.setHeader(name, value))([
     // from the first middleware to now
     ["X-Response-Time", `${endAt[0]}s ${endAt[1] / 1000000}ms`],
-
     ["Content-Type", contentType],
     ["Content-Length", Buffer.byteLength(body, "utf8")],
   ])
diff --git a/tests/index.js b/tests/index.js
index dc8b625..12f93e6 100644
--- a/tests/index.js
+++ b/tests/index.js
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ describe("blocks :: init with defaults", async assert => {
       require("./routes/no-schema.route"),
       require("./routes/with-schema.route"),
       require("./routes/no-allow.route"),
+      require("./routes/return-undefined.route"),
     ],
   })
 
@@ -29,10 +30,10 @@ describe("blocks :: init with defaults", async assert => {
   })
 
   assert({
-    given: "3 custom routes",
+    given: "4 custom routes",
     should: "load default /ping and custom",
     actual: Plugins.Router.count(),
-    expected: 4,
+    expected: 5,
   })
 
   assert({
@@ -112,5 +113,12 @@ describe("blocks :: init with defaults", async assert => {
     },
   })
 
+  assert({
+    given: "route that returns undefined",
+    should: "return empty JSON object",
+    actual: await request(`${API_URL}/return-undefined`),
+    expected: {},
+  })
+
   server.close()
 })
diff --git a/tests/routes/return-undefined.route.js b/tests/routes/return-undefined.route.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2d36b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/routes/return-undefined.route.js
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+module.exports = {
+  method: "GET",
+  path: "/return-undefined",
+
+  /**
+   * Permission checking, if allowed:
+   *  -> continue to action
+   *  -> otherwise return 403
+   *
+   * @param  {Object}  plugins  Plugins
+   * @param  {Object}  req      Node request
+   *
+   * @return {boolean}
+   */
+  isAllowed: (/* plugins */) => async () => true,
+
+  /**
+   * After schema validation and permission checking, do route logic
+   *
+   * @param  {Object}  plugins  Plugins
+   * @param  {Object}  req      Node request
+   *
+   * @return {mixed}
+   */
+  action: () => () => {},
+}