diff --git a/oml/library.py b/oml/library.py
index d61398f..54902d1 100644
--- a/oml/library.py
+++ b/oml/library.py
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class Peer(object):
                             l.remove_items(lremove, commit=False)
                         if ladd or lremove:
                             logger.debug('update list %s', l.name)
-                    else:
+                    elif self.info['lists'][l.name]:
                         l.add_items(self.info['lists'][l.name], commit=False)
                         update_items = list(set(update_items) - set(self.info['lists'][l.name]))
                         logger.debug('update list %s', l.name)