diff --git a/cmd/bucket-lifecycle.go b/cmd/bucket-lifecycle.go
index d34cec431..f6c74fd17 100644
--- a/cmd/bucket-lifecycle.go
+++ b/cmd/bucket-lifecycle.go
@@ -233,6 +233,10 @@ func (es *expiryState) enqueueByDays(oi ObjectInfo, event lifecycle.Event, src l
 // enqueueByNewerNoncurrent enqueues object versions expired by
 // NewerNoncurrentVersions limit for expiry.
 func (es *expiryState) enqueueByNewerNoncurrent(bucket string, versions []ObjectToDelete, lcEvent lifecycle.Event) {
+	if len(versions) == 0 {
+		return
+	}
+
 	task := newerNoncurrentTask{bucket: bucket, versions: versions, event: lcEvent}
 	wrkr := es.getWorkerCh(task.OpHash())
 	if wrkr == nil {
diff --git a/cmd/data-scanner.go b/cmd/data-scanner.go
index 505f51dc1..4ba4a7c4a 100644
--- a/cmd/data-scanner.go
+++ b/cmd/data-scanner.go
@@ -1051,7 +1051,9 @@ func (i *scannerItem) applyNewerNoncurrentVersionLimit(ctx context.Context, _ Ob
 		})
 	}
 
-	expState.enqueueByNewerNoncurrent(i.bucket, toDel, event)
+	if len(toDel) > 0 {
+		expState.enqueueByNewerNoncurrent(i.bucket, toDel, event)
+	}
 	return objectInfos, nil
 }