diff --git a/src/WebJobs.Extensions.DurableTask/EndToEndTraceHelper.cs b/src/WebJobs.Extensions.DurableTask/EndToEndTraceHelper.cs
index 7f8ac149d..88783a86a 100644
--- a/src/WebJobs.Extensions.DurableTask/EndToEndTraceHelper.cs
+++ b/src/WebJobs.Extensions.DurableTask/EndToEndTraceHelper.cs
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ private string SanitizeString(string? rawPayload, out string iloggerPayload, boo
                 return "(replay)";
             }
 
-            string payload = rawPayload ?? string.Empty;
+            string payload = rawPayload ?? "(null)";
             int numCharacters = payload.Length;
             string sanitizedPayload = $"(Redacted {numCharacters} characters)";