diff --git a/secondary.py b/secondary.py
index 83ea317c01a537c3791546ade75fa5b86b30c20b..81e0baea73996665b0284dccd4826558b51fca6e 100644
--- a/secondary.py
+++ b/secondary.py
@@ -57,6 +57,8 @@ class Backup:
                                         cwd=os.path.join(mount, path),
                                         stdin=self.primary_out)
         atexit.register(cond_kill, self.extract)
+        # Make sure that the generated star archive is not empty
+        self.primary_in.write(b'.\n')
 
     def close(self):
         self.primary_in.flush()