diff --git a/R/ard_complex.R b/R/ard_complex.R
index de41c913f..135bf1313 100644
--- a/R/ard_complex.R
+++ b/R/ard_complex.R
@@ -74,6 +74,11 @@ ard_complex.data.frame <- function(data,
   check_not_missing(variables)
   check_not_missing(statistic)
 
+  # return empty ARD if no variables selected ----------------------------------
+  if (is_empty(variables)) {
+    return(dplyr::tibble() |> as_card())
+  }
+
   # process inputs -------------------------------------------------------------
   process_selectors(data, variables = {{ variables }})
   process_formula_selectors(data[variables], statistic = statistic, allow_empty = FALSE)
diff --git a/R/ard_missing.R b/R/ard_missing.R
index 6ab76cea4..7cb93408b 100644
--- a/R/ard_missing.R
+++ b/R/ard_missing.R
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ ard_missing.data.frame <- function(data,
   # process variable inputs ----------------------------------------------------
   process_selectors(data, variables = {{ variables }})
 
-  # return empty tibble if no variables selected -------------------------------
+  # return empty ARD if no variables selected ----------------------------------
   if (is_empty(variables)) {
     return(dplyr::tibble() |> as_card())
   }