diff --git a/tests/system/shared/build_utils.py b/tests/system/shared/build_utils.py
index d5710f970d3c661ff86e183884d09e460c47b202..5a6d4cee4422bc68d19c439195e9278d9dbdfdf4 100644
--- a/tests/system/shared/build_utils.py
+++ b/tests/system/shared/build_utils.py
@@ -132,6 +132,8 @@ def createTasksFile(buildIssues):
             tData = "warning"
         else:
             tData = "unknown"
+        if fData.strip() == "" and lData == "-1" and dData.strip() == "":
+            test.fatal("Found empty task.")
         file.write("%s\t%s\t%s\t%s\n" % (fData, lData, tData, dData))
     file.close()
     test.log("Written tasks file %s" % outfile)