diff --git a/api/src/org/labkey/api/data/JsonWriter.java b/api/src/org/labkey/api/data/JsonWriter.java
index 86ac67c5f7b..4280839b1fb 100644
--- a/api/src/org/labkey/api/data/JsonWriter.java
+++ b/api/src/org/labkey/api/data/JsonWriter.java
@@ -180,7 +180,9 @@ public static Map<String, Object> getMetaData(DisplayColumn dc, FieldKey fieldKe
 
         props.put("wrappedColumnName", cinfo == null ? null : cinfo.getWrappedColumnName());
         props.put("valueExpression", cinfo == null ? null : cinfo.getValueExpression());
-        props.put("displayWidth", cinfo == null ? null : cinfo.getDisplayWidth());
+
+        if (cinfo != null && cinfo.getDisplayWidth() != null && !cinfo.getDisplayWidth().isEmpty())
+            props.put("displayWidth", cinfo.getDisplayWidth());
 
         ColumnInfo displayField = dc.getDisplayColumnInfo();
         if (displayField != null && displayField != cinfo)