diff --git a/src/resources/filters/quarto-pre/parsefiguredivs.lua b/src/resources/filters/quarto-pre/parsefiguredivs.lua
index 8b783c4503..ca075b0a5a 100644
--- a/src/resources/filters/quarto-pre/parsefiguredivs.lua
+++ b/src/resources/filters/quarto-pre/parsefiguredivs.lua
@@ -405,7 +405,7 @@ function parse_floatreftargets()
       subcaps = quarto.json.decode(subcaps)
     end
 
-    if nsubcells == #subcaps then
+    if nsubcells == #subcaps and nsubcells > 0 then
       content = handle_subcells_as_subfloats {
         div = div,
         content = content,