diff --git a/lib/liquid/variable.rb b/lib/liquid/variable.rb
index c31bffe..717b1a2 100644
--- a/lib/liquid/variable.rb
+++ b/lib/liquid/variable.rb
@@ -95,16 +95,17 @@ module Liquid
 
     def parse_filter_expressions(filter_name, unparsed_args)
       filter_args = []
-      keyword_args = {}
+      keyword_args = nil
       unparsed_args.each do |a|
         if matches = a.match(JustTagAttributes)
+          keyword_args ||= {}
           keyword_args[matches[1]] = Expression.parse(matches[2])
         else
           filter_args << Expression.parse(a)
         end
       end
       result = [filter_name, filter_args]
-      result << keyword_args unless keyword_args.empty?
+      result << keyword_args if keyword_args
       result
     end