diff --git a/.changelog/11585.txt b/.changelog/11585.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..563a86aa68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changelog/11585.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+```release-note:bug
+api: ensure new partition fields are omit empty for compatibility with older versions of consul
+```
diff --git a/api/connect_intention.go b/api/connect_intention.go
index 95be9ebb38..734d4ab0fd 100644
--- a/api/connect_intention.go
+++ b/api/connect_intention.go
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ type Intention struct {
 
 	// SourcePartition and DestinationPartition cannot be wildcards "*" and
 	// are not compatible with legacy intentions.
-	SourcePartition      string
-	DestinationPartition string
+	SourcePartition      string `json:",omitempty"`
+	DestinationPartition string `json:",omitempty"`
 
 	// SourceType is the type of the value for the source.
 	SourceType IntentionSourceType