diff --git a/Source/cmGccDepfileLexerHelper.cxx b/Source/cmGccDepfileLexerHelper.cxx
index 87377de401..ae8892a467 100644
--- a/Source/cmGccDepfileLexerHelper.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGccDepfileLexerHelper.cxx
@@ -145,8 +145,8 @@ void cmGccDepfileLexerHelper::sanitizeContent()
         ++rit;
       }
     }
-    // Remove the entry if rules are empty or do not have any paths
-    if (it->rules.empty() || it->paths.empty()) {
+    // Remove the entry if rules are empty
+    if (it->rules.empty()) {
       it = this->Content.erase(it);
     } else {
       ++it;