diff --git a/cmd/helm/repo_list.go b/cmd/helm/repo_list.go
index 51b4f0d58..c286cc8af 100644
--- a/cmd/helm/repo_list.go
+++ b/cmd/helm/repo_list.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func newRepoListCmd(out io.Writer) *cobra.Command {
 		Args:    require.NoArgs,
 		RunE: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 			f, err := repo.LoadFile(settings.RepositoryConfig)
-			if isNotExist(err) || len(f.Repositories) == 0 {
+			if isNotExist(err) || (len(f.Repositories) == 0 && !(outfmt.String() == "json" || outfmt.String() == "yaml")) {
 				return errors.New("no repositories to show")
 			}