diff --git a/cumulusci/salesforce_api/package_zip.py b/cumulusci/salesforce_api/package_zip.py
index bf12bf1f84..c84aff4b4e 100644
--- a/cumulusci/salesforce_api/package_zip.py
+++ b/cumulusci/salesforce_api/package_zip.py
@@ -117,7 +117,8 @@ def from_zipfile(cls, zf, *, options=None, logger=None):
     def _convert_sfdx_format(self, path, name):
         orig_path = path
         with contextlib.ExitStack() as stack:
-            if not pathlib.Path(path, "package.xml").exists():
+            # convert sfdx -> mdapi format if path exists but does not have package.xml
+            if len(os.listdir(path)) and not pathlib.Path(path, "package.xml").exists():
                 self.logger.info("Converting from sfdx to mdapi format")
                 path = stack.enter_context(temporary_dir(chdir=False))
                 args = ["-r", str(orig_path), "-d", path]
diff --git a/cumulusci/salesforce_api/tests/test_package_zip.py b/cumulusci/salesforce_api/tests/test_package_zip.py
index ec799774fa..91c39cb9bf 100644
--- a/cumulusci/salesforce_api/tests/test_package_zip.py
+++ b/cumulusci/salesforce_api/tests/test_package_zip.py
@@ -317,12 +317,21 @@ def test_include_file(self):
 
     def test_convert_sfdx(self):
         with temporary_dir() as path:
+            touch("README.md")  # make sure there's something in the directory
             with mock.patch("cumulusci.salesforce_api.package_zip.sfdx") as sfdx:
                 builder = MetadataPackageZipBuilder()
                 with builder._convert_sfdx_format(path, "Test Package"):
                     pass
         sfdx.assert_called_once()
 
+    def test_convert_sfdx__skipped_if_directory_empty(self):
+        with temporary_dir() as path:
+            with mock.patch("cumulusci.salesforce_api.package_zip.sfdx") as sfdx:
+                builder = MetadataPackageZipBuilder()
+                with builder._convert_sfdx_format(path, "Test Package"):
+                    pass
+        sfdx.assert_not_called()
+
     def test_removes_feature_parameters_from_unlocked_package(self):
         with temporary_dir() as path:
             pathlib.Path(path, "package.xml").write_text(
diff --git a/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/Deploy.py b/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/Deploy.py
index 7af67eed5e..7f9e852705 100644
--- a/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/Deploy.py
+++ b/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/Deploy.py
@@ -79,7 +79,11 @@ def _get_api(self, path=None):
             path = self.options.get("path")
 
         package_zip = self._get_package_zip(path)
-        self.logger.info("Payload size: {} bytes".format(len(package_zip)))
+        if package_zip is not None:
+            self.logger.info("Payload size: {} bytes".format(len(package_zip)))
+        else:
+            self.logger.warning("Deployment package is empty; skipping deployment.")
+            return
 
         return self.api_class(
             self,
@@ -113,9 +117,12 @@ def _get_package_zip(self, path):
             "namespaced_org": self._is_namespaced_org(namespace),
         }
 
-        return MetadataPackageZipBuilder(
+        package_zip = MetadataPackageZipBuilder(
             path=path, options=options, logger=self.logger
-        ).as_base64()
+        )
+        if not package_zip.zf.namelist():
+            return
+        return package_zip.as_base64()
 
     def freeze(self, step):
         steps = super(Deploy, self).freeze(step)
diff --git a/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/tests/test_Deploy.py b/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/tests/test_Deploy.py
index 72059b8c92..6a8b7e2043 100644
--- a/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/tests/test_Deploy.py
+++ b/cumulusci/tasks/salesforce/tests/test_Deploy.py
@@ -114,6 +114,19 @@ def test_get_api__static_resources(self):
                 self.assertIn("<name>StaticResource</name>", package_xml)
                 self.assertIn("<members>TestBundle</members>", package_xml)
 
+    def test_get_api__empty_package_zip(self):
+        with temporary_dir() as path:
+            task = create_task(
+                Deploy,
+                {
+                    "path": path,
+                    "unmanaged": True,
+                },
+            )
+
+            api = task._get_api()
+            assert api is None
+
     def test_init_options(self):
         with self.assertRaises(TaskOptionsError):
             create_task(