diff --git a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
index cb3552d7f..7b573e4e4 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/backend/ninjabackend.py
@@ -2369,7 +2369,7 @@ class NinjaBackend(backends.Backend):
 
                 options = self._rsp_options(compiler)
                 self.add_rule(NinjaRule(rule, command, args, description, **options, extra=pool))
-            if self.environment.machines[for_machine].is_aix():
+            if self.environment.machines[for_machine].is_aix() and complist:
                 rule = 'AIX_LINKER{}'.format(self.get_rule_suffix(for_machine))
                 description = 'Archiving AIX shared library'
                 cmdlist = compiler.get_command_to_archive_shlib()