diff --git a/transfer_service/retrieve_executor.py b/transfer_service/retrieve_executor.py
index c009ec8a178f59c4e6bb9631004390f2edcb3472..0b5378a42fd9eef374280e034df51ac9bd19c2b7 100644
--- a/transfer_service/retrieve_executor.py
+++ b/transfer_service/retrieve_executor.py
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ class RetrieveExecutor(TaskExecutor):
                 # is 'cold'
                 if self.storageType == "cold":
                     self.tapeClient.connect()
-                    self.tapeClient.migrate([ f["fullPath"] for f in blockFileList ], self.tapePool, self.jobId)
+                    self.tapeClient.migrate([ f["fullPath"] for f in blockFileList if f["fileSize"] > 0 ], self.tapePool, self.jobId)
                     self.tapeClient.disconnect()
 
                 blockFileList.clear()