diff --git a/zio-http/shared/src/main/scala/zio/http/endpoint/openapi/JsonSchema.scala b/zio-http/shared/src/main/scala/zio/http/endpoint/openapi/JsonSchema.scala
index d2063c2bc8..0dc9d674ce 100644
--- a/zio-http/shared/src/main/scala/zio/http/endpoint/openapi/JsonSchema.scala
+++ b/zio-http/shared/src/main/scala/zio/http/endpoint/openapi/JsonSchema.scala
@@ -425,7 +425,7 @@ object JsonSchema {
                 refType,
                 seenWithCurrent,
               )
-              nested.rootRef.map(k => nested.children + (k -> nested.root)).getOrElse(nested.children)
+              nested.rootRef.fold(ifEmpty = nested.children)(k => nested.children + (k -> nested.root))
             }
             .toMap
           JsonSchemas(fromZSchema(record, SchemaStyle.Inline), ref, children)