--- a/cmds/install-secrets/src/main.rs
+++ b/cmds/install-secrets/src/main.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 use fleet_shared::SecretData;
 use nix::unistd::{chown, Group, User};
 use serde::Deserialize;
-use tracing::{error, info_span};
+use tracing::{error, info, info_span};
 use tracing_subscriber::{filter::LevelFilter, EnvFilter};
 
 #[derive(Parser)]
@@ -198,6 +198,11 @@
 		fs::create_dir("/run/secrets").context("failed to create secrets directory")?;
 	}
 
+	if data.is_empty() {
+		info!("no secrets to install");
+		return Ok(())
+	}
+
 	let identity = host_identity()?;
 
 	let mut failed = false;