diff --git a/app/controllers/projects/commits_controller.rb b/app/controllers/projects/commits_controller.rb
index 14637437d0a..cadb9cff463 100644
--- a/app/controllers/projects/commits_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/projects/commits_controller.rb
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Projects::CommitsController < Projects::ApplicationController
   end
 
   def validate_path
-    return unless @path
+    return if @path.blank?
 
     path_exists = @repository.blob_at(@commit.id, @path) || @repository.tree(@commit.id, @path).entries.present?
     redirect_to_tree_root_for_missing_path(@project, @ref, @path) unless path_exists
diff --git a/spec/controllers/projects/commits_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/projects/commits_controller_spec.rb
index 77c7ea10e96..e04bf550e09 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/projects/commits_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/projects/commits_controller_spec.rb
@@ -88,6 +88,16 @@ RSpec.describe Projects::CommitsController, feature_category: :source_code_manag
         end
       end
 
+      context 'when branch has only empty commits' do
+        let(:id) { 'empty-branch' }
+
+        it 'allows to see commits' do
+          request
+
+          is_expected.to respond_with(:success)
+        end
+      end
+
       context "with an invalid limit" do
         let(:id) { "master/README.md" }