diff --git a/cli/startup_data.rs b/cli/startup_data.rs
index 1a77915e90..62218fdef7 100644
--- a/cli/startup_data.rs
+++ b/cli/startup_data.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ pub fn deno_isolate_init() -> StartupData<'static> {
     let source_bytes =
       include_bytes!(concat!(env!("GN_OUT_DIR"), "/gen/cli/bundle/main.js"));
     #[cfg(feature = "check-only")]
-    let source_bytes = vec![];
+    let source_bytes = b"";
 
     StartupData::Script(Script {
       filename: "gen/cli/bundle/main.js",
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ pub fn deno_isolate_init() -> StartupData<'static> {
     let data =
       include_bytes!(concat!(env!("GN_OUT_DIR"), "/gen/cli/snapshot_deno.bin"));
     #[cfg(any(feature = "check-only", feature = "no-snapshot-init"))]
-    let data = vec![];
+    let data = b"";
 
     StartupData::Snapshot(data)
   }
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pub fn compiler_isolate_init() -> StartupData<'static> {
       "/gen/cli/bundle/compiler.js"
     ));
     #[cfg(feature = "check-only")]
-    let source_bytes = vec![];
+    let source_bytes = b"";
 
     StartupData::Script(Script {
       filename: "gen/cli/bundle/compiler.js",
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ pub fn compiler_isolate_init() -> StartupData<'static> {
       "/gen/cli/snapshot_compiler.bin"
     ));
     #[cfg(any(feature = "check-only", feature = "no-snapshot-init"))]
-    let data = vec![];
+    let data = b"";
 
     StartupData::Snapshot(data)
   }