diff --git a/java-client/src/main/java/org/opensearch/client/json/JsonpDeserializerBase.java b/java-client/src/main/java/org/opensearch/client/json/JsonpDeserializerBase.java
index d706f8ec72..4d3fc4cc39 100644
--- a/java-client/src/main/java/org/opensearch/client/json/JsonpDeserializerBase.java
+++ b/java-client/src/main/java/org/opensearch/client/json/JsonpDeserializerBase.java
@@ -349,8 +349,13 @@ public List<T> deserialize(JsonParser parser, JsonpMapper mapper, Event event) {
             if (event == Event.START_ARRAY) {
                 List<T> result = new ArrayList<>();
                 while ((event = parser.next()) != Event.END_ARRAY) {
-                    JsonpUtils.ensureAccepts(itemDeserializer, parser, event);
-                    result.add(itemDeserializer.deserialize(parser, mapper, event));
+                    // JSON null: add null unless the deserializer can handle it
+                    if (event == Event.VALUE_NULL && !itemDeserializer.accepts(event)) {
+                        result.add(null);
+                    } else {
+                        JsonpUtils.ensureAccepts(itemDeserializer, parser, event);
+                        result.add(itemDeserializer.deserialize(parser, mapper, event));
+                    }
                 }
                 return result;
             } else {