diff --git a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
index 105c8d167..7250c55a8 100644
--- a/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
+++ b/lib/ramble/ramble/workspace/workspace.py
@@ -872,6 +872,10 @@ def manage_environments(
         software_dict = self.get_software_dict().copy()
 
         environments = software_dict[namespace.environments]
+        # Ensure package dict is an syaml_dict, for formatting
+        if not environments:
+            software_dict[namespace.environments] = syaml.syaml_dict()
+            environments = software_dict[namespace.environments]
 
         if remove:
             if env_name in environments:
@@ -940,6 +944,11 @@ def manage_packages(
 
         packages = software_dict[namespace.packages]
 
+        # Ensure package dict is an syaml_dict, for formatting
+        if not packages:
+            software_dict[namespace.packages] = syaml.syaml_dict()
+            packages = software_dict[namespace.packages]
+
         if remove:
             if pkg_name in packages:
                 del packages[pkg_name]