diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index b53a884c7c..aaf19f4126 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -305,6 +305,6 @@ run_target('git-update', command : [update])
 run_target('update', command : [update,
     '--builddir=@0@'.format(meson.current_build_dir())])
 
-if orc_subproject.found()
+if orc_subproject.found() and orc_update_targets.length() > 0
   alias_target('update-orc-dist', orc_update_targets)
 endif