diff --git a/salt/states/file.py b/salt/states/file.py
index cb58c7bb772d..7dbdd7c7e6e5 100644
--- a/salt/states/file.py
+++ b/salt/states/file.py
@@ -7311,7 +7311,7 @@ def serialize(name,
 
     if isinstance(existing_data, dict) and isinstance(merged_data, dict):
         ret['changes']['diff'] = salt.utils.dictdiffer.recursive_diff(
-            existing_data, merged_data)
+            existing_data, merged_data).diffs
 
     return ret