diff --git a/lib/alpm/manager.cpp b/lib/alpm/manager.cpp
index b151508..216ca4f 100644
--- a/lib/alpm/manager.cpp
+++ b/lib/alpm/manager.cpp
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ void Manager::updateAlpmDatabases()
     }
     for(auto &syncDb : m_syncDbs) {
         QReadLocker locker(syncDb->lock());
-        if(syncDb->hasOutdatedPackages()) {
+        if(syncDb->packages().empty() || syncDb->hasOutdatedPackages()) {
             locker.unlock();
             syncDb->refresh(m_config.storageDir() + QStringLiteral("/sync"));
         }