diff --git a/src/apispec/core.py b/src/apispec/core.py
index 2b4a52e1..c3c678a9 100644
--- a/src/apispec/core.py
+++ b/src/apispec/core.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def example(self, name, component=None, **kwargs):
             raise DuplicateComponentNameError(
                 'Another example with name "{}" is already registered.'.format(name)
             )
-        self._examples[name] = component or {}
+        self._examples[name] = component
         return self
 
     def schema(self, name, component=None, **kwargs):