diff --git a/lib/outdated.js b/lib/outdated.js
index 197b71962500e..3ec01948ae977 100644
--- a/lib/outdated.js
+++ b/lib/outdated.js
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ function outdated (args, silent, cb) {
         return aa[0].path.localeCompare(bb[0].path) ||
           aa[1].localeCompare(bb[1])
       })
-      if (er || silent || list.length === 0) return cb(er, list)
+      if (er || silent) return cb(er, list)
       if (opts.json) {
         output(makeJSON(list, opts))
       } else if (opts.parseable) {