diff --git a/satpy/scene.py b/satpy/scene.py
index 4fab319c09..47dc8c5e14 100644
--- a/satpy/scene.py
+++ b/satpy/scene.py
@@ -905,6 +905,9 @@ def to_xarray_dataset(self, datasets=None):
         """
         dataarrays = self._get_dataarrays_from_identifiers(datasets)
 
+        if len(dataarrays) == 0:
+            return xr.Dataset()
+
         ds_dict = {i.attrs['name']: i.rename(i.attrs['name']) for i in dataarrays if i.attrs.get('area') is not None}
         mdata = combine_metadata(*tuple(i.attrs for i in dataarrays))
         if mdata.get('area') is None or not isinstance(mdata['area'], SwathDefinition):
diff --git a/satpy/tests/test_scene.py b/satpy/tests/test_scene.py
index ea74b1e6e8..3e4dbdfc47 100644
--- a/satpy/tests/test_scene.py
+++ b/satpy/tests/test_scene.py
@@ -1745,6 +1745,16 @@ def test_save_dataset_default(self):
 class TestSceneConversions(unittest.TestCase):
     """Test Scene conversion to geoviews, xarray, etc."""
 
+    def test_to_xarray_dataset_with_empty_scene(self):
+        """Test converting empty Scene to xarray dataset."""
+        from satpy import Scene
+        from xarray import Dataset
+        scn = Scene()
+        xrds = scn.to_xarray_dataset()
+        assert isinstance(xrds, Dataset)
+        assert len(xrds.variables) == 0
+        assert len(xrds.coords) == 0
+
     def test_geoviews_basic_with_area(self):
         """Test converting a Scene to geoviews with an AreaDefinition."""
         from satpy import Scene