diff --git a/go/mysql/binlog/binlog_json.go b/go/mysql/binlog/binlog_json.go
index e6b7d09819d..30c80531a96 100644
--- a/go/mysql/binlog/binlog_json.go
+++ b/go/mysql/binlog/binlog_json.go
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ func ParseBinaryJSONDiff(data []byte) (sqltypes.Value, error) {
 			// Can be a JSON null.
 			js, err := ParseBinaryJSON(data)
 			if err == nil && js.Type() == json.TypeNull {
-				return sqltypes.MakeTrusted(sqltypes.Expression, js.MarshalTo(nil)), nil
+				return sqltypes.MakeTrusted(sqltypes.Expression, js.MarshalSQLTo(nil)), nil
 			}
 			return sqltypes.Value{}, vterrors.Errorf(vtrpcpb.Code_INVALID_ARGUMENT,
 				"invalid JSON diff operation: %d", opType)
@@ -144,8 +144,7 @@ func ParseBinaryJSONDiff(data []byte) (sqltypes.Value, error) {
 				"cannot read JSON diff value for path %q", path)
 		}
 		pos += valueLen
-		buf := value.MarshalSQLTo(nil)
-		diff.Write(buf)
+		diff.Write(value.MarshalSQLTo(nil))
 		diff.WriteByte(')')
 	}
 
diff --git a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/vplayer_flaky_test.go b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/vplayer_flaky_test.go
index 872ba7a59b1..e697f6d2752 100644
--- a/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/vplayer_flaky_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/vttablet/tabletmanager/vreplication/vplayer_flaky_test.go
@@ -1667,13 +1667,13 @@ func TestPlayerPartialImages(t *testing.T) {
 			},
 		},
 		{
-			input: `update src set jd=JSON_SET(jd, '$.idontknow', null) where id = 3`,
+			input: `update src set jd=JSON_SET(jd, '$.idontknow', null, '$.idontknoweither', 'null') where id = 3`,
 			output: []string{
-				"update dst set jd=JSON_INSERT(`jd`, _utf8mb4'$.idontknow', CAST(_utf8mb4'null' as JSON)) where id=3",
+				"update dst set jd=JSON_INSERT(JSON_INSERT(`jd`, _utf8mb4'$.idontknow', CAST(_utf8mb4'null' as JSON)), _utf8mb4'$.idontknoweither', CAST(JSON_QUOTE(_utf8mb4'null') as JSON)) where id=3",
 			},
 			data: [][]string{
 				{"1", "{\"key1\": \"val1\", \"color\": \"red\", \"years\": 5, \"hobbies\": [\"skiing\", \"video games\", \"hiking\"]}", "blob data"},
-				{"3", "{\"key3\": \"val3\", \"idontknow\": null}", "blob data3"},
+				{"3", "{\"key3\": \"val3\", \"idontknow\": null, \"idontknoweither\": \"null\"}", "blob data3"},
 				{"12", "{\"key2\": \"val2\", \"misc\": \"{\\\"address\\\":\\\"1012 S Park\\\", \\\"town\\\":\\\"Hastings\\\", \\\"state\\\":\\\"MI\\\"}\", \"current\": true}", "newest blob data"},
 			},
 		},