diff --git a/abuild.in b/abuild.in
index c325a3dc46ddec917dd76725e2bdc4ecf7e71f9b..faa569e92b1e9f455bc3e0989a8d85b62fb7231f 100755
--- a/abuild.in
+++ b/abuild.in
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ depparse_aports() {
 
 deptrace() {
 	local deps="$@"
-	[ -z "$deps" ] && die "should not happen"
+	[ -z "$deps" ] && return 0
 	( 	depparse_aports 
 		if [ -z "$upgrade" ]; then
 			# list installed pkgs and prefix with 'i '