diff --git a/lib/order.c b/lib/order.c
index c0ef547..0dcf129 100644
--- a/lib/order.c
+++ b/lib/order.c
@@ -557,7 +557,8 @@ int rpmtsOrder(rpmts ts)
     (void) rpmswEnter(rpmtsOp(ts, RPMTS_OP_ORDER), 0);
 
     /* Create erased package index. */
-    erasedPackages = rpmtsCreateAl(ts, TR_REMOVED);
+    if (nelem)
+        erasedPackages = rpmtsCreateAl(ts, TR_REMOVED);
 
     for (int i = 0; i < nelem; i++) {
 	sortInfo[i].te = tsmem->order[i];
@@ -647,7 +648,8 @@ int rpmtsOrder(rpmts ts)
 	free(SCCs[i].members);
     }
     free(SCCs);
-    rpmalFree(erasedPackages);
+    if (nelem)
+       rpmalFree(erasedPackages);
 
     (void) rpmswExit(rpmtsOp(ts, RPMTS_OP_ORDER), 0);