diff --git a/src/sql/parts/notebook/models/cell.ts b/src/sql/parts/notebook/models/cell.ts
index 104696b2c7..76481698e7 100644
--- a/src/sql/parts/notebook/models/cell.ts
+++ b/src/sql/parts/notebook/models/cell.ts
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ export class CellModel implements ICellModel {
 		if (this._cellType === CellTypes.Code) {
 			cellJson.metadata.language = this._language,
 				cellJson.outputs = this._outputs;
-			cellJson.execution_count = this.executionCount;
+			cellJson.execution_count = this.executionCount ? this.executionCount : 0;
 		}
 		return cellJson as nb.ICellContents;
 	}