diff --git a/lib/awful/menu.lua.in b/lib/awful/menu.lua.in
index 959dc4711..6a0c7e6b0 100644
--- a/lib/awful/menu.lua.in
+++ b/lib/awful/menu.lua.in
@@ -97,6 +97,9 @@ end
 local function exec(menu, num, mouse_event)
     cmd = menu.items[num].cmd
     if type(cmd) == "table" then
+        if #cmd == 0 then
+            return
+        end
         if not menu.child[num] then
             menu.child[num] = new({ items = cmd }, menu, num)
         end