diff --git a/internal/topdata/json_contract.go b/internal/topdata/json_contract.go
index 8a3edcf..7da1222 100644
--- a/internal/topdata/json_contract.go
+++ b/internal/topdata/json_contract.go
@@ -97,10 +97,7 @@ func parseGlobalConditionGroups(injection map[string]any) (globalConditionGroups
 
 func parseGlobalConditionList(name string, raw any, requireNonEmpty bool) ([]globalCondition, error) {
 	if raw == nil {
-		if requireNonEmpty {
-			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s must be an array", name)
-		}
-		return nil, nil
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s must be an array", name)
 	}
 
 	conditions, ok := raw.([]any)
diff --git a/internal/topdata/json_contract_test.go b/internal/topdata/json_contract_test.go
index 82e043e..1525d48 100644
--- a/internal/topdata/json_contract_test.go
+++ b/internal/topdata/json_contract_test.go
@@ -98,6 +98,20 @@ func TestParseGlobalConditionGroups(t *testing.T) {
 				UnlessPresent:  []globalCondition{},
 			},
 		},
+		{
+			name: "require present null is rejected",
+			injection: map[string]any{
+				"require_present": nil,
+			},
+			wantError: "require_present must be an array",
+		},
+		{
+			name: "unless present null is rejected",
+			injection: map[string]any{
+				"unless_present": nil,
+			},
+			wantError: "unless_present must be an array",
+		},
 		{
 			name: "any present must be array",
 			injection: map[string]any{