diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/BackgroundActivityExecutionContextExtensions.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/BackgroundActivityExecutionContextExtensions.cs
index b427d6751..eaae54b29 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/BackgroundActivityExecutionContextExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Core/Extensions/BackgroundActivityExecutionContextExtensions.cs
@@ -40,9 +40,9 @@ public static class BackgroundActivityExecutionContextExtensions
     /// <summary>
     /// Gets the background outcomes.
     /// </summary>
-    public static IEnumerable<string> GetBackgroundOutcomes(this ActivityExecutionContext activityExecutionContext)
+    public static IEnumerable<string>? GetBackgroundOutcomes(this ActivityExecutionContext activityExecutionContext)
     {
-        return activityExecutionContext.GetProperty<IEnumerable<string>>("BackgroundOutcomes") ?? Enumerable.Empty<string>();
+        return activityExecutionContext.GetProperty<IEnumerable<string>>("BackgroundOutcomes");
     }
     
     /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/DefaultBackgroundActivityInvoker.cs b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/DefaultBackgroundActivityInvoker.cs
index 1e46a389e..653aa2c9b 100644
--- a/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/DefaultBackgroundActivityInvoker.cs
+++ b/src/modules/Elsa.Workflows.Runtime/Services/DefaultBackgroundActivityInvoker.cs
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public class DefaultBackgroundActivityInvoker : IBackgroundActivityInvoker
         var outcomesKey = BackgroundActivityInvokerMiddleware.GetBackgroundActivityOutcomesKey(activityNodeId);
         var journalDataKey = BackgroundActivityInvokerMiddleware.GetBackgroundActivityJournalDataKey(activityNodeId);
         var scheduledActivitiesKey = BackgroundActivityInvokerMiddleware.GetBackgroundActivityScheduledActivitiesKey(activityNodeId);
-        var outcomes = activityExecutionContext.GetBackgroundOutcomes().ToList();
+        var outcomes = activityExecutionContext.GetBackgroundOutcomes()?.ToList();
         var scheduledActivities = activityExecutionContext.GetBackgroundScheduledActivities().ToList();
 
         var dispatchRequest = new DispatchWorkflowInstanceRequest
@@ -119,13 +119,15 @@ public class DefaultBackgroundActivityInvoker : IBackgroundActivityInvoker
             BookmarkId = bookmarkId,
             Properties = new Dictionary<string, object>
             {
-                [outcomesKey] = outcomes,
                 [scheduledActivitiesKey] = JsonSerializer.Serialize(scheduledActivities),
                 [inputKey] = outputValues,
                 [journalDataKey] = activityExecutionContext.JournalData
             }
         };
 
+        if (outcomes != null)
+            dispatchRequest.Properties[outcomesKey] = outcomes;
+
         if (cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
         {
             _logger.LogInformation("Background execution for activity {ActivityNodeId} was canceled", activityNodeId);