diff --git a/docs/widgets/services/customapi.md b/docs/widgets/services/customapi.md
index 95d2e0551..bd43a93d6 100644
--- a/docs/widgets/services/customapi.md
+++ b/docs/widgets/services/customapi.md
@@ -57,8 +57,8 @@ widget:
     - field: key
       label: Number of things in array
       format: size
-    - field: . # This will take the root of the API response, e.g. when APIs return an array
-      label: Number of items
+    # This (no field) will take the root of the API response, e.g. when APIs return an array:
+    - label: Number of items
       format: size
 ```
 
diff --git a/src/widgets/customapi/component.jsx b/src/widgets/customapi/component.jsx
index 282cb0a5f..52a27be94 100644
--- a/src/widgets/customapi/component.jsx
+++ b/src/widgets/customapi/component.jsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ function getValue(field, data) {
   let key = "";
 
   // Support APIs that return arrays or scalars directly.
-  if (field === ".") {
+  if (typeof field === "undefined") {
     return value;
   }