diff --git a/common/flatpak-dir.c b/common/flatpak-dir.c
index 9f749b73..252d8ac7 100644
--- a/common/flatpak-dir.c
+++ b/common/flatpak-dir.c
@@ -9684,6 +9684,7 @@ flatpak_dir_update (FlatpakDir                           *self,
 {
   g_autoptr(GBytes) deploy_data = NULL;
   const char **subpaths = NULL;
+  const char *empty_subpaths[] = {NULL};
   g_autofree char *url = NULL;
   FlatpakPullFlags flatpak_flags;
   g_autofree const char **old_subpaths = NULL;
@@ -9706,8 +9707,10 @@ flatpak_dir_update (FlatpakDir                           *self,
 
   if (opt_subpaths)
     subpaths = opt_subpaths;
-  else
+  else if (old_subpaths)
     subpaths = old_subpaths;
+  else
+    subpaths = empty_subpaths;
 
   if (!ostree_repo_remote_get_url (self->repo, state->remote_name, &url, error))
     return FALSE;