diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 6ead7c26..27a5c104 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+ - partial fix for bnc#551147
+
 0.124
  - added 'osc bugowner' as a more intelligent version of 'osc maintainer -B'
  - added option '-B' to osc maintainer, prints bugowner OR maintainer.
diff --git a/osc/core.py b/osc/core.py
index 77f1ac92..b3352f8d 100755
--- a/osc/core.py
+++ b/osc/core.py
@@ -403,8 +403,9 @@ class Project:
         ET.SubElement(self.pac_root, 'package', name=name, state=state)
 
     def read_packages(self):
-        if os.path.isfile(os.path.join(self.absdir, store, '_packages')):
-            return ET.parse(os.path.join(self.absdir, store, '_packages'))
+        packages_file = os.path.join(self.absdir, store, '_packages')
+        if os.path.isfile(packages_file) and os.path.getsize(packages_file):
+            return ET.parse(packages_file)
         else:
             # scan project for existing packages and migrate them
             cur_pacs = []