diff --git a/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/directory/js/optional_zip_countries.phtml b/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/directory/js/optional_zip_countries.phtml
index e53e5a15220..51481f3ceb8 100644
--- a/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/directory/js/optional_zip_countries.phtml
+++ b/app/design/frontend/base/default/template/directory/js/optional_zip_countries.phtml
@@ -26,8 +26,11 @@
  * @see Mage_Core_Block_Template
  */
 ?>
-<script type="text/javascript">
-//<![CDATA[
-optionalZipCountries = <?php echo $this->helper('directory')->getCountriesWithOptionalZip(true) ?>;
-//]]>
-</script>
+<?php $optional_zip_countries = $this->helper('directory')->getCountriesWithOptionalZip(false) ?>
+<?php if (!empty($optional_zip_countries)): ?>
+    <script>
+        //<![CDATA[
+        optionalZipCountries = <?php echo $this->helper('core')->jsonEncode($optional_zip_countries); ?>;
+        //]]>
+    </script>
+<?php endif ?>