diff --git a/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Layout/Update.php b/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Layout/Update.php
index bd5fc322fcb0..adf6edca167d 100644
--- a/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Layout/Update.php
+++ b/app/code/core/Mage/Core/Model/Layout/Update.php
@@ -362,6 +362,7 @@ public function fetchDbLayoutUpdates($handle)
         Varien_Profiler::start($_profilerKey);
         $updateStr = $this->_getUpdateString($handle);
         if (!$updateStr) {
+            Varien_Profiler::stop($_profilerKey);
             return false;
         }
         $updateStr = '<update_xml>' . $updateStr . '</update_xml>';