diff --git a/d2renderers/d2svg/appendix/appendix.go b/d2renderers/d2svg/appendix/appendix.go
index 47e7a7ba1..7237075ab 100644
--- a/d2renderers/d2svg/appendix/appendix.go
+++ b/d2renderers/d2svg/appendix/appendix.go
@@ -153,6 +153,9 @@ func generateAppendix(diagram *d2target.Diagram, ruler *textmeasure.Ruler, svg s
 			}
 		}
 	}
+	if len(lines) == 0 {
+		return "", 0, 0
+	}
 	totalHeight += SPACER
 
 	return fmt.Sprintf(`<g x="%d" y="%d" width="%d" height="100%%">%s</g>