diff --git a/rust/src/daemon.rs b/rust/src/daemon.rs
index cdf01365..fb0b2c92 100644
--- a/rust/src/daemon.rs
+++ b/rust/src/daemon.rs
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ pub(crate) fn deployment_populate_variant(
     }
 
     /* Staging status */
+    dict.insert("staged", &deployment.is_staged());
     if deployment.is_staged() {
-        dict.insert("staged", &true);
         if std::path::Path::new("/run/ostree/staged-deployment-locked").exists() {
             dict.insert("finalization-locked", &true);
         }
diff --git a/tests/kolainst/nondestructive/misc.sh b/tests/kolainst/nondestructive/misc.sh
index 657c7528..71d9c96b 100755
--- a/tests/kolainst/nondestructive/misc.sh
+++ b/tests/kolainst/nondestructive/misc.sh
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@ assert_jq status.json \
   '.deployments[0]["requested-base-removals"]' \
   '.deployments[0]["live-inprogress"]|not' \
   '.deployments[0]["live-replaced"]|not' \
-  '.deployments[0]["layered-commit-meta"]|not'
+  '.deployments[0]["layered-commit-meta"]|not' \
+  '.deployments[0]["staged"]|not'
 rm status.json
 rpm-ostree testutils validate-parse-status
 echo "ok empty pkg arrays, and commit meta correct in status json"