diff --git a/system/tools/mkbootimg/mkbootimg.py b/system/tools/mkbootimg/mkbootimg.py
index ec295817969..09ab3bb3ba0 100755
--- a/system/tools/mkbootimg/mkbootimg.py
+++ b/system/tools/mkbootimg/mkbootimg.py
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def write_header(args):
         args.output.write(pack('I', BOOT_IMAGE_HEADER_V2_SIZE))
 
     if args.header_version > 1:
-        if filesize(args.dtb) == 0:
+        if filesize(args.dtb) == 0 and filesize(args.second) == 0:
             raise ValueError('DTB image must not be empty.')
 
         # dtb size in bytes