diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/runtime/internal/dom.js b/packages/svelte/src/runtime/internal/dom.js
index 18a5d5d2787b..0c3e3037b16a 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/runtime/internal/dom.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/runtime/internal/dom.js
@@ -806,6 +806,9 @@ export function claim_html_tag(nodes, is_svg) {
 		n.claim_order = nodes.claim_info.total_claimed;
 		nodes.claim_info.total_claimed += 1;
 	}
+	if (claimed_nodes.length === 0) {
+		return new HtmlTagHydration(is_svg);
+	}
 	return new HtmlTagHydration(is_svg, claimed_nodes);
 }