diff --git a/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md b/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md
index 2045c7a7e..a31f16880 100644
--- a/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md
+++ b/specs/core/1_shard-data-chains.md
@@ -384,11 +384,6 @@ def process_shard_attestations(beacon_state: BeaconState, shard_state: ShardStat
             pubkeys.append(beacon_state.validators[validator_index].pubkey)
             process_delta(beacon_state, shard_state, validator_index, get_base_reward(beacon_state, validator_index))
             attestation_count += 1
-    # Exit early if no participants
-    if not any(pubkeys):
-        assert block.attestations == BLSSignature()
-        return
-
     # Verify there are no extraneous bits set beyond the shard committee
     for i in range(len(shard_committee), 2 * MAX_PERIOD_COMMITTEE_SIZE):
         assert block.aggregation_bits[i] == 0b0
diff --git a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/phase1/shard_block.py b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/phase1/shard_block.py
index a339a0e70..834adc93f 100644
--- a/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/phase1/shard_block.py
+++ b/test_libs/pyspec/eth2spec/test/helpers/phase1/shard_block.py
@@ -66,13 +66,16 @@ def build_empty_shard_block(spec,
             (True,) * len(shard_committee) +
             (False,) * (spec.MAX_PERIOD_COMMITTEE_SIZE * 2 - len(shard_committee))
         )
-        block.attestations = sign_shard_attestation(
-            spec,
-            beacon_state,
-            shard_state,
-            block,
-            participants=shard_committee,
-        )
+    else:
+        shard_committee = []
+
+    block.attestations = sign_shard_attestation(
+        spec,
+        beacon_state,
+        shard_state,
+        block,
+        participants=shard_committee,
+    )
 
     if signed:
         sign_shard_block(spec, beacon_state, shard_state, block)