diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 61512a5..e71cd4a 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+## 2.16.0 (Unreleased)
+
+BUG FIXES:
+
+* Distinguish unset vs empty zone.networks
+
 ## 2.15.0 (August 28th, 2025)
 
 FEATURES:
diff --git a/rest/_examples/networks_empty.go b/rest/_examples/networks_empty.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aab0ba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rest/_examples/networks_empty.go
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"gopkg.in/ns1/ns1-go.v2/rest/model/dns"
+)
+
+func main() {
+	fmt.Println("NS1 SDK Empty Networks Example")
+	fmt.Println("------------------------------")
+
+	// Case 1: Default behavior (nil NetworkIDs)
+	zone1 := dns.NewZone("example.com")
+	// NetworkIDs is nil by default
+	data1, _ := json.Marshal(zone1)
+	fmt.Println("Case 1 - Default (nil NetworkIDs):")
+	fmt.Printf("  JSON: %s\n", string(data1))
+	fmt.Printf("  Contains 'networks': %v\n\n", strings.Contains(string(data1), "networks"))
+
+	// Case 2: Empty NetworkIDs (explicit empty array)
+	zone2 := dns.NewZone("empty.example.com")
+	zone2.NetworkIDs = []int{} // Empty slice
+	data2, _ := json.Marshal(zone2)
+	fmt.Println("Case 2 - Empty NetworkIDs (explicit empty array):")
+	fmt.Printf("  JSON: %s\n", string(data2))
+	fmt.Printf("  Contains 'networks': %v\n", strings.Contains(string(data2), "networks"))
+	fmt.Printf("  Has empty networks array: %v\n\n", strings.Contains(string(data2), `"networks":[]`))
+
+	// Case 3: Populated NetworkIDs
+	zone3 := dns.NewZone("populated.example.com")
+	zone3.NetworkIDs = []int{1, 2}
+	data3, _ := json.Marshal(zone3)
+	fmt.Println("Case 3 - Populated NetworkIDs:")
+	fmt.Printf("  JSON: %s\n", string(data3))
+	fmt.Printf("  Contains networks: %v\n\n", strings.Contains(string(data3), `"networks":[1,2]`))
+
+	// Case 4: Unmarshal JSON with networks field
+	jsonStr := `{"zone":"example.com","networks":[3,4]}`
+	var zone4 dns.Zone
+	json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &zone4)
+	fmt.Println("Case 4 - Unmarshal JSON with networks field:")
+	fmt.Printf("  Zone: %s\n", zone4.Zone)
+	fmt.Printf("  NetworkIDs: %v\n", zone4.NetworkIDs)
+}
diff --git a/rest/model/dns/networks_test.go b/rest/model/dns/networks_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..87273a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rest/model/dns/networks_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+package dns
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/stretchr/testify/assert"
+)
+
+func TestZoneNetworks_MarshalJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test Case 1: nil NetworkIDs should be omitted
+	z := Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: nil,
+	}
+
+	data, err := json.Marshal(z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.NotContains(t, string(data), "networks")
+
+	// Test Case 2: Empty NetworkIDs should be included as []
+	z = Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: []int{},
+	}
+
+	data, err = json.Marshal(z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(data), `"networks":[]`)
+
+	// Test Case 3: Populated NetworkIDs should be included
+	z = Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: []int{1, 2, 3},
+	}
+
+	data, err = json.Marshal(z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(data), `"networks":[1,2,3]`)
+}
+
+func TestZoneNetworks_UnmarshalJSON(t *testing.T) {
+	// Test Case 1: JSON with networks field should populate NetworkIDs
+	jsonStr := `{"zone":"example.com","networks":[1,2,3]}`
+	var z Zone
+	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []int{1, 2, 3}, z.NetworkIDs)
+
+	// Test Case 2: JSON with empty networks array should result in empty NetworkIDs
+	jsonStr = `{"zone":"example.com","networks":[]}`
+	z = Zone{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, 0, len(z.NetworkIDs))
+
+	// Test Case 3: JSON without networks field should result in nil NetworkIDs
+	jsonStr = `{"zone":"example.com"}`
+	z = Zone{}
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Nil(t, z.NetworkIDs)
+}
+
+func TestZone_EnsureNetworksFromLegacy(t *testing.T) {
+	// This method is now deprecated but we still test it for compatibility
+
+	// Test Case 1: When networks is nil and NetworkIDs has values
+	networkIDs := []int{1, 2, 3}
+	z := Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: networkIDs,
+	}
+	// Force the internal networks field to nil
+	z.networks = nil
+
+	z.EnsureNetworksFromLegacy()
+	// Check that the internal field is now set
+	assert.NotNil(t, z.networks)
+	assert.Equal(t, networkIDs, *z.networks)
+
+	// Test Case 2: When networks is already set, it shouldn't change
+	otherNetworks := []int{4, 5, 6}
+	z = Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: networkIDs,
+	}
+	z.networks = &otherNetworks
+
+	z.EnsureNetworksFromLegacy()
+	assert.Equal(t, otherNetworks, *z.networks)
+	assert.NotEqual(t, networkIDs, *z.networks)
+
+	// Test Case 3: When both are empty/nil
+	z = Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: nil,
+	}
+	z.networks = nil
+
+	z.EnsureNetworksFromLegacy()
+	assert.Nil(t, z.networks)
+	assert.Nil(t, z.NetworkIDs)
+}
+
+// Integration test to verify the entire flow works as expected
+func TestZoneNetworks_IntegrationFlow(t *testing.T) {
+	// Starting with a Zone using NetworkIDs
+	z := Zone{
+		Zone:       "example.com",
+		NetworkIDs: []int{1, 2, 3},
+	}
+
+	// Step 1: Marshal to JSON - should automatically populate networks field
+	data, err := json.Marshal(z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(data), `"networks":[1,2,3]`)
+
+	// Step 2: Change to empty networks array
+	z.NetworkIDs = []int{}
+
+	// Step 3: Marshal again to verify empty array is sent
+	data, err = json.Marshal(z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Contains(t, string(data), `"networks":[]`)
+
+	// Step 4: Unmarshal from JSON with networks field
+	jsonStr := `{"zone":"example.com","networks":[4,5]}`
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []int{4, 5}, z.NetworkIDs)
+
+	// Step 5: Unmarshal from JSON without networks field
+	jsonStr = `{"zone":"example.com"}`
+	err = json.Unmarshal([]byte(jsonStr), &z)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Nil(t, z.NetworkIDs)
+}
diff --git a/rest/model/dns/zone.go b/rest/model/dns/zone.go
index dea00ee..0ccade8 100644
--- a/rest/model/dns/zone.go
+++ b/rest/model/dns/zone.go
@@ -35,8 +35,11 @@ type Zone struct {
 
 	// Networks contains the network ids the zone is available. Most zones
 	// will be in the NSONE Global Network(which is id 0).
-	NetworkIDs []int         `json:"networks,omitempty"`
-	Records    []*ZoneRecord `json:"records,omitempty"`
+	NetworkIDs []int `json:"-"`
+	// networks is the internal field that distinguishes between unset (nil)
+	// vs explicit empty ([]) during JSON marshaling.
+	networks *[]int        `json:"networks,omitempty"`
+	Records  []*ZoneRecord `json:"records,omitempty"`
 
 	// Primary contains info to enable slaving of the zone by third party dns servers.
 	Primary *ZonePrimary `json:"primary,omitempty"`
@@ -51,6 +54,92 @@ type Zone struct {
 	Tags map[string]string `json:"tags,omitempty"` // Only relevant for DDI
 }
 
+// Networks returns the networks field pointer value.
+// Deprecated: Use NetworkIDs instead. This method will be removed in a future version.
+func (z *Zone) Networks() *[]int {
+	return z.networks
+}
+
+// SetNetworks sets the networks field to the provided value.
+// Deprecated: Use NetworkIDs instead. This method will be removed in a future version.
+func (z *Zone) SetNetworks(networks *[]int) {
+	z.networks = networks
+}
+
+// MarshalJSON ensures NetworkIDs is properly serialized to JSON
+func (z Zone) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
+	// Create a clone of the zone to avoid infinite recursion
+	type Alias Zone
+	aux := struct {
+		*Alias
+		Networks []int `json:"networks,omitempty"`
+	}{
+		Alias: (*Alias)(&z),
+	}
+
+	// Only include networks field if NetworkIDs is non-nil
+	if z.NetworkIDs != nil {
+		// For empty slices, we need a special case to ensure []
+		// is included in the output despite the omitempty tag
+		if len(z.NetworkIDs) == 0 {
+			// Create a temporary struct without omitempty
+			type AuxWithoutOmitEmpty struct {
+				*Alias
+				Networks []int `json:"networks"`
+			}
+			return json.Marshal(&AuxWithoutOmitEmpty{
+				Alias:    aux.Alias,
+				Networks: []int{},
+			})
+		}
+		aux.Networks = z.NetworkIDs
+	}
+
+	return json.Marshal(&aux)
+}
+
+// UnmarshalJSON ensures backward compatibility by populating NetworkIDs from networks
+func (z *Zone) UnmarshalJSON(data []byte) error {
+	type Alias Zone
+	aux := &struct {
+		*Alias
+		Networks *[]int `json:"networks"`
+	}{
+		Alias: (*Alias)(z),
+	}
+
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(data, aux); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	// Preserve presence semantics
+	z.networks = aux.Networks
+
+	// Update NetworkIDs from networks field
+	z.ensureNetworkIDsFromJSON()
+
+	return nil
+}
+
+// EnsureNetworksFromLegacy ensures the networks field is populated from NetworkIDs
+// Deprecated: This is now handled automatically during JSON marshaling
+func (z *Zone) EnsureNetworksFromLegacy() {
+	if z.networks == nil && len(z.NetworkIDs) > 0 {
+		v := append([]int(nil), z.NetworkIDs...)
+		z.networks = &v
+	}
+}
+
+// ensureNetworkIDsFromJSON is an internal function to ensure NetworkIDs is populated
+// from the networks field after JSON unmarshaling
+func (z *Zone) ensureNetworkIDsFromJSON() {
+	if z.networks != nil {
+		z.NetworkIDs = append([]int(nil), *z.networks...)
+	} else {
+		z.NetworkIDs = nil
+	}
+}
+
 func (z Zone) String() string {
 	return z.Zone
 }
@@ -176,6 +265,7 @@ func (z *Zone) LinkTo(to string) {
 	z.Primary = nil
 	z.DNSServers = nil
 	z.NetworkIDs = nil
+	z.networks = nil // Also clear the new field
 	z.NetworkPools = nil
 	z.Hostmaster = ""
 	z.Pool = ""
diff --git a/rest/zone.go b/rest/zone.go
index 25df260..0f14a0b 100644
--- a/rest/zone.go
+++ b/rest/zone.go
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ func (s *ZonesService) Get(zone string, records bool) (*dns.Zone, *http.Response
 		return nil, resp, err
 	}
 
+	// NetworkIDs is already populated from the networks field
+	// during JSON unmarshaling in the Zone.UnmarshalJSON method
+
 	return &z, resp, nil
 }
 
@@ -74,6 +77,9 @@ func (s *ZonesService) Get(zone string, records bool) (*dns.Zone, *http.Response
 //
 // NS1 API docs: https://ns1.com/api/#zones-put
 func (s *ZonesService) Create(z *dns.Zone) (*http.Response, error) {
+	// Serialization of NetworkIDs to JSON is now handled automatically
+	// in the Zone.MarshalJSON method
+
 	path := fmt.Sprintf("zones/%s", z.Zone)
 
 	req, err := s.client.NewRequest("PUT", path, &z)
@@ -102,6 +108,9 @@ func (s *ZonesService) Create(z *dns.Zone) (*http.Response, error) {
 //
 // NS1 API docs: https://ns1.com/api/#zones-post
 func (s *ZonesService) Update(z *dns.Zone) (*http.Response, error) {
+	// Serialization of NetworkIDs to JSON is now handled automatically
+	// in the Zone.MarshalJSON method
+
 	path := fmt.Sprintf("zones/%s", z.Zone)
 
 	req, err := s.client.NewRequest("POST", path, &z)