--- /BCodec.java	2023-07-05 02:58:05.658054737 +0200
+++ /Codec-1/src/java/org/apache/commons/codec/net/BCodec.java	2023-07-05 02:58:05.658054737 +0200
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@
      */
     public Object encode(Object value) throws EncoderException {
         if (value == null) {
-            return null;
+return this;
         } else if (value instanceof String) {
             return encode((String) value);
         } else {
