diff --git a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/GraphQL/GraphQL.node.ts b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/GraphQL/GraphQL.node.ts
index b904070cf5..95c59ebeff 100644
--- a/packages/nodes-base/nodes/GraphQL/GraphQL.node.ts
+++ b/packages/nodes-base/nodes/GraphQL/GraphQL.node.ts
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ export class GraphQL implements INodeType {
 					};
 					if (typeof requestOptions.body.variables === 'string') {
 						try {
-							requestOptions.body.variables = JSON.parse(requestOptions.body.variables);
+							requestOptions.body.variables = JSON.parse(requestOptions.body.variables || '{}');
 						} catch (e) {
 							throw new Error('Using variables failed:\n' + requestOptions.body.variables + '\n\nWith error message:\n' + e);
 						}