diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/serializers.py
index 76ca408f9d4e..643a4725e1a0 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/serializers.py
@@ -305,7 +305,8 @@ class StaffAssessSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
     def get_options_selected(self, instance):
         options_selected = {}
         for criterion in instance.get("criteria"):
-            options_selected[criterion["name"]] = criterion["selectedOption"]
+            if criterion["selectedOption"]:
+                options_selected[criterion["name"]] = criterion["selectedOption"]
 
         return options_selected
 
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/tests/test_serializers.py b/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/tests/test_serializers.py
index 13107926f2f4..19939c0f9b85 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/tests/test_serializers.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/ora_staff_grader/tests/test_serializers.py
@@ -718,6 +718,13 @@ class TestStaffAssessSerializer(TestCase):
         ],
     }
 
+    grade_data_no_selected_option = {
+        "overallFeedback": "was pretty good",
+        "criteria": [
+            {"name": "firstCriterion", "selectedOption": None},
+        ],
+    }
+
     submission_uuid = "foo"
 
     def test_staff_assess_serializer(self):
@@ -757,3 +764,18 @@ def test_staff_assess_no_feedback(self):
         }
 
         assert serializer.data == expected_value
+
+    def test_staff_assess_no_selected_option(self):
+        """When selected option is None, it should be ignored"""
+        context = {"submission_uuid": self.submission_uuid}
+        serializer = StaffAssessSerializer(self.grade_data_no_selected_option, context=context)
+
+        expected_value = {
+            "options_selected": {},
+            "criterion_feedback": {},
+            "overall_feedback": "was pretty good",
+            "submission_uuid": self.submission_uuid,
+            "assess_type": "full-grade",
+        }
+
+        assert serializer.data == expected_value