diff --git a/dvc/stage.py b/dvc/stage.py
index b9bc676aa..b0856c06e 100644
--- a/dvc/stage.py
+++ b/dvc/stage.py
@@ -363,7 +363,7 @@ class Stage(object):
             raise StageFileIsNotDvcFileError(fname)
 
         with open(fname, 'r') as fd:
-            return Stage.loadd(project, yaml.safe_load(fd), fname)
+            return Stage.loadd(project, yaml.safe_load(fd) or dict(), fname)
 
     def dumpd(self):
         deps = [x.dumpd() for x in self.deps]