diff --git a/lisp/json.el b/lisp/json.el
index f5659d81efa..24986590cb0 100644
--- a/lisp/json.el
+++ b/lisp/json.el
@@ -55,7 +55,6 @@
 ;;; Code:
 
 (require 'map)
-(require 'seq)
 (require 'subr-x)
 
 ;; Parameters
@@ -655,7 +654,7 @@ become JSON objects."
 (defun json-encode-array (array)
   "Return a JSON representation of ARRAY."
   (if (and json-encoding-pretty-print
-           (not (seq-empty-p array)))
+           (/= 0 (length array)))
       (concat
        "["
        (json--with-indentation