diff --git a/elements/dpkg/bin/install-packages b/elements/dpkg/bin/install-packages
index 70d0e92e..219ff87b 100755
--- a/elements/dpkg/bin/install-packages
+++ b/elements/dpkg/bin/install-packages
@@ -63,4 +63,8 @@ if [ -n "$MAP_ELEMENT" ]; then
     fi
 fi
 
-install_deb_packages $ACTION $PKGS
+if [ -z "${PKGS}" ]; then
+    echo "Not running install-packages $ACTION with empty packages list"
+else
+    install_deb_packages $ACTION $PKGS
+fi