diff --git a/bin/xbps-remove/main.c b/bin/xbps-remove/main.c
index 1ef328a8..4ff943c0 100644
--- a/bin/xbps-remove/main.c
+++ b/bin/xbps-remove/main.c
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 			exit(rv);
 		}
 	}
-	if (missing == argc) {
+	if (!orphans && missing == argc) {
 		goto out;
 	}
 	if (orphans || (argc > optind)) {