diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptor.java b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptor.java
index a8fee762c..1cdc9ece5 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptor.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptor.java
@@ -80,11 +80,13 @@ public class JSONValidationInterceptor extends AnnotationValidationInterceptor {
                     response.setStatus(validationFailedStatus);
                 response.getWriter().print(buildResponse(validationAware));
                 return Action.NONE;
-            }
+            } 
         }
 
         String validateOnly = request.getParameter("validateOnly");
         if (validateOnly != null && "true".equals(validateOnly)) {
+            //there were no errors
+            response.getWriter().print("/* {} */");
             return Action.NONE;
         } else {
             return invocation.invoke();
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptorTest.java b/core/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptorTest.java
index d9a39cd49..635795a9f 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptorTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/org/apache/struts2/interceptor/validation/JSONValidationInterceptorTest.java
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public class JSONValidationInterceptorTest extends StrutsTestCase {
         String json = stringWriter.toString();
 
         String normalizedActual = TestUtils.normalize(json, true);
-        assertEquals("", normalizedActual);
+        assertEquals("/*{}*/", normalizedActual);
         assertFalse(invocation.isExecuted());
     }