diff --git a/utils/datasets.py b/utils/datasets.py
index b8dfbadc..5f7e18b0 100755
--- a/utils/datasets.py
+++ b/utils/datasets.py
@@ -579,7 +579,6 @@ def load_mosaic(self, index):
                 with open(label_path, 'r') as f:
                     x = np.array([x.split() for x in f.read().splitlines()], dtype=np.float32)
 
-            labels = []
             if x.size > 0:
                 # Normalized xywh to pixel xyxy format
                 labels = x.copy()
@@ -587,6 +586,8 @@ def load_mosaic(self, index):
                 labels[:, 2] = h * (x[:, 2] - x[:, 4] / 2) + padh
                 labels[:, 3] = w * (x[:, 1] + x[:, 3] / 2) + padw
                 labels[:, 4] = h * (x[:, 2] + x[:, 4] / 2) + padh
+            else:
+                labels = np.zeros((0, 5), dtype=np.float32)
             labels4.append(labels)
 
     if len(labels4):