diff --git a/masque/label.py b/masque/label.py
index 98a65df..d220fee 100644
--- a/masque/label.py
+++ b/masque/label.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class Label(PositionableImpl, RepeatableImpl, AnnotatableImpl, Bounded, Pivotabl
         new._string = string
         new._offset = offset
         new._repetition = repetition
-        new._annotations = annotations if annotations is not None else {}
+        new._annotations = annotations
         return new
 
     def __copy__(self) -> Self:
diff --git a/masque/ref.py b/masque/ref.py
index 1d71432..0cc911f 100644
--- a/masque/ref.py
+++ b/masque/ref.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ class Ref(
         new._scale = scale
         new._mirrored = mirrored
         new._repetition = repetition
-        new._annotations = annotations if annotations is not None else {}
+        new._annotations = annotations
         return new
 
     def __copy__(self) -> 'Ref':
diff --git a/masque/test/test_gdsii_arrow.py b/masque/test/test_gdsii_arrow.py
index b005cd7..cec48c8 100644
--- a/masque/test/test_gdsii_arrow.py
+++ b/masque/test/test_gdsii_arrow.py
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ if not gdsii_arrow.is_available():
 
 
 def _annotations_key(annotations: dict[str, list[object]] | None) -> tuple[tuple[str, tuple[object, ...]], ...] | None:
-    if annotations is None:
+    if not annotations:
         return None
     return tuple(sorted((key, tuple(values)) for key, values in annotations.items()))
 
@@ -228,6 +228,25 @@ def test_raw_ref_grid_label_constructors_match_public() -> None:
     public_grid = Grid(a_vector=(20, 0), a_count=3, b_vector=(0, 30), b_count=2)
     assert raw_grid == public_grid
 
+    raw_ref_empty = Ref._from_raw(
+        offset=numpy.array([100, 200]),
+        rotation=numpy.pi / 2,
+        mirrored=False,
+        scale=1.0,
+        repetition=None,
+        annotations=None,
+        )
+    public_ref_empty = Ref(
+        offset=(100, 200),
+        rotation=numpy.pi / 2,
+        mirrored=False,
+        scale=1.0,
+        repetition=None,
+        annotations=None,
+        )
+    assert raw_ref_empty.annotations is None
+    assert raw_ref_empty == public_ref_empty
+
     raw_ref = Ref._from_raw(
         offset=numpy.array([100, 200]),
         rotation=numpy.pi / 2,
@@ -247,6 +266,19 @@ def test_raw_ref_grid_label_constructors_match_public() -> None:
     assert raw_ref == public_ref
     assert numpy.array_equal(raw_ref.as_transforms(), public_ref.as_transforms())
 
+    raw_label_empty = Label._from_raw(
+        'LEAF',
+        offset=numpy.array([3, 4]),
+        annotations=None,
+        )
+    public_label_empty = Label(
+        'LEAF',
+        offset=(3, 4),
+        annotations=None,
+        )
+    assert raw_label_empty.annotations is None
+    assert raw_label_empty == public_label_empty
+
     raw_label = Label._from_raw(
         'LEAF',
         offset=numpy.array([3, 4]),
diff --git a/masque/utils/comparisons.py b/masque/utils/comparisons.py
index ffb7206..bb2dfee 100644
--- a/masque/utils/comparisons.py
+++ b/masque/utils/comparisons.py
@@ -9,7 +9,15 @@ def annotation2key(aaa: int | float | str) -> tuple[bool, Any]:
     return (isinstance(aaa, str), aaa)
 
 
+def _normalized_annotations(annotations: annotations_t) -> annotations_t:
+    if not annotations:
+        return None
+    return annotations
+
+
 def annotations_lt(aa: annotations_t, bb: annotations_t) -> bool:
+    aa = _normalized_annotations(aa)
+    bb = _normalized_annotations(bb)
     if aa is None:
         return bb is not None
     elif bb is None:            # noqa: RET505
@@ -36,6 +44,8 @@ def annotations_lt(aa: annotations_t, bb: annotations_t) -> bool:
 
 
 def annotations_eq(aa: annotations_t, bb: annotations_t) -> bool:
+    aa = _normalized_annotations(aa)
+    bb = _normalized_annotations(bb)
     if aa is None:
         return bb is None
     elif bb is None:            # noqa: RET505