diff --git a/commonspace/object/tree/synctree/synctree.go b/commonspace/object/tree/synctree/synctree.go
index 47cce93c..6cee58e2 100644
--- a/commonspace/object/tree/synctree/synctree.go
+++ b/commonspace/object/tree/synctree/synctree.go
@@ -289,6 +289,9 @@ func (s *syncTree) checkAlive() (err error) {
 func (s *syncTree) SyncWithPeer(ctx context.Context, p peer.Peer) (err error) {
 	s.Lock()
 	defer s.Unlock()
+	if objecttree.IsEmptyDerivedTree(s.ObjectTree) {
+		return
+	}
 	protoVersion, err := peer.CtxProtoVersion(p.Context())
 	// this works with old protocol
 	if err != nil || protoVersion <= secureservice.ProtoVersion {