diff --git a/common/page_layout/page_layout_reader.cpp b/common/page_layout/page_layout_reader.cpp
index 74b3980ea7..2a3ef5e8a7 100644
--- a/common/page_layout/page_layout_reader.cpp
+++ b/common/page_layout/page_layout_reader.cpp
@@ -220,8 +220,13 @@ void PAGE_LAYOUT_READER_PARSER::parseSetup( WS_DATA_MODEL* aLayout )
             break;
         }
     }
+
+    // The file is well-formed.  If it has no further items, then that's the way the
+    // user wants it.
+    aLayout->AllowVoidList( true );
 }
 
+
 void PAGE_LAYOUT_READER_PARSER::parsePolygon( WS_DATA_ITEM_POLYGONS * aItem )
 {
     for( T token = NextTok(); token != T_RIGHT && token != EOF; token = NextTok() )