diff --git a/sonar/applications.py b/sonar/applications.py
index 4aaef0c4..0380bae4 100644
--- a/sonar/applications.py
+++ b/sonar/applications.py
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ def export(self, export_settings: types.ConfigSettings) -> types.ObjectJsonRepr:
                 "visibility": self.visibility(),
                 # 'projects': self.projects(),
                 "branches": {br.name: br.export() for br in self.branches().values()},
-                "permissions": self.permissions().export(export_settings=export_settings),
+                "permissions": util.perms_to_list(self.permissions().export(export_settings=export_settings)),
                 "tags": self.get_tags(),
             }
         )
diff --git a/sonar/portfolios.py b/sonar/portfolios.py
index 467bdfbd..c0b90366 100644
--- a/sonar/portfolios.py
+++ b/sonar/portfolios.py
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ def to_json(self, export_settings: types.ConfigSettings) -> types.ObjectJsonRepr
         subportfolios = self.sub_portfolios()
         if not self.is_sub_portfolio():
             json_data["visibility"] = self._visibility
-            json_data["permissions"] = self.permissions().export(export_settings=export_settings)
+            json_data["permissions"] = util.perms_to_list(self.permissions().export(export_settings=export_settings))
         json_data["tags"] = self._tags
         if subportfolios:
             json_data["portfolios"] = {}
diff --git a/sonar/utilities.py b/sonar/utilities.py
index f005774f..ff4664d1 100644
--- a/sonar/utilities.py
+++ b/sonar/utilities.py
@@ -855,4 +855,6 @@ def order_list(l: list[str], *key_order) -> list[str]:
 
 def perms_to_list(perms: dict[str, Any]) -> list[str, Any]:
     """Converts permissions in dict format to list format"""
+    if not perms:
+        return perms
     return dict_to_list(perms.get("groups", {}), "group", "permissions") + dict_to_list(perms.get("users", {}), "user", "permissions")