diff --git a/tools/releasetools/sparse_img.py b/tools/releasetools/sparse_img.py
index 49b3a67001..7019f00083 100644
--- a/tools/releasetools/sparse_img.py
+++ b/tools/releasetools/sparse_img.py
@@ -221,9 +221,14 @@ class SparseImage(object):
           nonzero_blocks.append(b)
           nonzero_blocks.append(b+1)
 
-    out["__ZERO"] = rangelib.RangeSet(data=zero_blocks)
-    out["__NONZERO"] = rangelib.RangeSet(data=nonzero_blocks)
-    out["__COPY"] = clobbered_blocks
+    assert zero_blocks or nonzero_blocks or clobbered_blocks
+
+    if zero_blocks:
+      out["__ZERO"] = rangelib.RangeSet(data=zero_blocks)
+    if nonzero_blocks:
+      out["__NONZERO"] = rangelib.RangeSet(data=nonzero_blocks)
+    if clobbered_blocks:
+      out["__COPY"] = clobbered_blocks
 
   def ResetFileMap(self):
     """Throw away the file map and treat the entire image as