diff --git a/docs/ipc b/docs/ipc
index c95bcd57..3cf66368 100644
--- a/docs/ipc
+++ b/docs/ipc
@@ -769,9 +769,9 @@ input_code (integer)::
 	If the binding was configured with +bindcode+, this will be the key code
 	that was given for the binding. If the binding is a mouse binding, it will be
 	the number of the mouse button that was pressed. Otherwise it will be 0.
-symbol (string)::
+symbol (string or null)::
 	If this is a keyboard binding that was configured with +bindsym+, this
-	field will contain the given symbol.
+	field will contain the given symbol. Otherwise it will be +null+.
 input_type (string)::
 	This will be +"keyboard"+ or +"mouse"+ depending on whether or not this was
 	a keyboard or a mouse binding.
diff --git a/src/ipc.c b/src/ipc.c
index e93fe567..4c39a04c 100644
--- a/src/ipc.c
+++ b/src/ipc.c
@@ -160,7 +160,10 @@ static void dump_binding(yajl_gen gen, Binding *bind) {
     ystr((const char*)(bind->input_type == B_KEYBOARD ? "keyboard" : "mouse"));
 
     ystr("symbol");
-    ystr(bind->symbol);
+    if (bind->symbol == NULL)
+        y(null);
+    else
+        ystr(bind->symbol);
 
     ystr("command");
     ystr(bind->command);