diff --git a/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis.go b/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis.go
index b9977090494..fdaefeadd63 100644
--- a/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis.go
+++ b/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis.go
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ func DefaultGenesisState() *GenesisState {
 			time.Hour * 3,
 			time.Hour * 7,
 		},
-		DistrInfo: nil,
+		DistrInfo: &DistrInfo{
+			TotalWeight: sdk.ZeroInt(),
+			Records:     nil,
+		},
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis_test.go b/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis_test.go
index 8d38d4cc4da..25c84ba8468 100644
--- a/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis_test.go
+++ b/x/pool-incentives/types/genesis_test.go
@@ -22,14 +22,20 @@ func TestGenesisStateMarshalUnmarshal(t *testing.T) {
 			state: &types.GenesisState{
 				Params:            types.DefaultParams(),
 				LockableDurations: []time.Duration(nil),
-				DistrInfo:         nil,
+				DistrInfo: &types.DistrInfo{
+					TotalWeight: sdk.ZeroInt(),
+					Records:     nil,
+				},
 			},
 		},
 		{ // empty array distribution info
 			state: &types.GenesisState{
 				Params:            types.DefaultParams(),
 				LockableDurations: []time.Duration(nil),
-				DistrInfo:         &types.DistrInfo{},
+				DistrInfo: &types.DistrInfo{
+					TotalWeight: sdk.ZeroInt(),
+					Records:     nil,
+				},
 			},
 		},
 		{ // one record distribution info
@@ -51,7 +57,10 @@ func TestGenesisStateMarshalUnmarshal(t *testing.T) {
 			state: &types.GenesisState{
 				Params:            types.Params{},
 				LockableDurations: []time.Duration(nil),
-				DistrInfo:         nil,
+				DistrInfo: &types.DistrInfo{
+					TotalWeight: sdk.ZeroInt(),
+					Records:     nil,
+				},
 			},
 		},
 	}