Index: pym/portage/__init__.py
===================================================================
--- pym/portage/__init__.py	(revision 10602)
+++ pym/portage/__init__.py	(revision 10637)
@@ -4042,7 +4049,21 @@
 			noiselevel=-1)
 		if strict:
 			return 0
+		else:
+			return 1
 	mf = Manifest(pkgdir, mysettings["DISTDIR"])
+	manifest_empty = True
+	for d in mf.fhashdict.itervalues():
+		if d:
+			manifest_empty = False
+			break
+	if manifest_empty:
+		writemsg("!!! Manifest is empty: '%s'\n" % manifest_path,
+			noiselevel=-1)
+		if strict:
+			return 0
+		else:
+			return 1
 	eout = portage.output.EOutput()
 	eout.quiet = mysettings.get("PORTAGE_QUIET", None) == "1"
 	try: