diff --git a/elements/opensuse/bin/install-packages b/elements/opensuse/bin/install-packages
index d556c9db..3c6b3097 100755
--- a/elements/opensuse/bin/install-packages
+++ b/elements/opensuse/bin/install-packages
@@ -78,5 +78,9 @@ if [ -n "$WHITELIST" ]; then
     else
         PKGS=$(map-packages $WHITELIST)
     fi
-    run_zypper install $EXTRA_ARGS $PKGS
+    if [ -z "${PKGS}" ]; then
+        echo 'No packages need to be installed'
+    else
+        run_zypper install $EXTRA_ARGS $PKGS
+    fi
 fi