diff --git a/src/checkstyle/Message.hx b/src/checkstyle/Message.hx
index c34556d0..133e4278 100644
--- a/src/checkstyle/Message.hx
+++ b/src/checkstyle/Message.hx
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ typedef Message = MessageLocation & {
 	var moduleName:String;
 	var categories:Array<Category>;
 	var points:Int;
-	@:optional var related:Array<MessageLocation>;
+	var related:Array<MessageLocation>;
 };
 
 typedef MessageLocation = {
diff --git a/src/checkstyle/reporter/ReporterManager.hx b/src/checkstyle/reporter/ReporterManager.hx
index e41939f7..58d7418f 100644
--- a/src/checkstyle/reporter/ReporterManager.hx
+++ b/src/checkstyle/reporter/ReporterManager.hx
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class ReporterManager {
 			desc: "",
 			code: '$e',
 			message: '$step failed: $e\nPlease file a github issue at https://github.com/HaxeCheckstyle/haxe-checkstyle/issues',
-			related: null
+			related: []
 		};
 	}
 }