diff --git a/bin/pungi-koji b/bin/pungi-koji
index 5740ddaf..6ed8c046 100755
--- a/bin/pungi-koji
+++ b/bin/pungi-koji
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ def run_compose(compose):
 
     # write .discinfo and media.repo before ISOs are created
     for variant in compose.get_variants(recursive=True):
-        if variant.type == "addon":
+        if variant.type == "addon" or variant.is_empty:
             continue
         for arch in variant.arches + ["src"]:
             timestamp = pungi.metadata.write_discinfo(compose, arch, variant)
diff --git a/pungi/metadata.py b/pungi/metadata.py
index f037708b..62801300 100644
--- a/pungi/metadata.py
+++ b/pungi/metadata.py
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ def write_compose_info(compose):
 
 
 def write_tree_info(compose, arch, variant, timestamp=None):
-    if variant.type in ("addon", ):
+    if variant.type in ("addon", ) or variant.is_empty:
         return
 
     if not timestamp:
diff --git a/pungi/phases/createrepo.py b/pungi/phases/createrepo.py
index 521d0467..62c2ea46 100644
--- a/pungi/phases/createrepo.py
+++ b/pungi/phases/createrepo.py
@@ -77,16 +77,24 @@ class CreaterepoPhase(PhaseBase):
 
         for arch in self.compose.get_arches():
             for variant in self.compose.get_variants(arch=arch):
+                if variant.is_empty:
+                    continue
                 self.pool.queue_put((self.compose, arch, variant, "rpm"))
                 self.pool.queue_put((self.compose, arch, variant, "debuginfo"))
 
         for variant in self.compose.get_variants():
+            if variant.is_empty:
+                continue
             self.pool.queue_put((self.compose, None, variant, "srpm"))
 
         self.pool.start()
 
 
 def create_variant_repo(compose, arch, variant, pkg_type):
+    if variant.is_empty:
+        compose.log_info("[SKIP ] Creating repo (arch: %s, variant: %s): %s" % (arch, variant))
+        return
+
     createrepo_c = compose.conf.get("createrepo_c", True)
     createrepo_checksum = compose.conf["createrepo_checksum"]
     repo = CreaterepoWrapper(createrepo_c=createrepo_c)
@@ -131,7 +139,7 @@ def create_variant_repo(compose, arch, variant, pkg_type):
     manifest = productmd.rpms.Rpms()
     manifest.load(manifest_file)
 
-    for rpms_arch, data in manifest.rpms[variant.uid].items():
+    for rpms_arch, data in manifest.rpms[variant.uid].iteritems():
         if arch is None and pkg_type != "srpm":
             continue
         if arch is not None and arch != rpms_arch:
diff --git a/pungi/phases/gather/__init__.py b/pungi/phases/gather/__init__.py
index 9c11b000..05152d98 100644
--- a/pungi/phases/gather/__init__.py
+++ b/pungi/phases/gather/__init__.py
@@ -164,6 +164,15 @@ def gather_packages(compose, arch, variant, package_sets, fulltree_excludes=None
     GatherMethod = get_gather_method(compose.conf["gather_method"])
 
     msg = "Gathering packages (arch: %s, variant: %s)" % (arch, variant)
+
+    if variant.is_empty:
+        compose.log_info("[SKIP ] %s" % msg)
+        return {
+            "rpm": [],
+            "srpm": [],
+            "debuginfo": [],
+        }
+
     compose.log_info("[BEGIN] %s" % msg)
 
     packages, groups, filter_packages = get_variant_packages(compose, arch, variant, package_sets)
diff --git a/pungi/phases/product_img.py b/pungi/phases/product_img.py
index a39ac926..687d2618 100644
--- a/pungi/phases/product_img.py
+++ b/pungi/phases/product_img.py
@@ -98,14 +98,14 @@ class ProductimgPhase(PhaseBase):
     def run(self):
         # create PRODUCT.IMG
         for variant in self.compose.get_variants():
-            if variant.type != "variant":
+            if variant.type != "variant" or variant.is_empty:
                 continue
             create_product_img(self.compose, "global", variant)
 
         # copy PRODUCT.IMG
         for arch in self.compose.get_arches():
             for variant in self.compose.get_variants(arch=arch):
-                if variant.type != "variant":
+                if variant.type != "variant" or variant.is_empty:
                     continue
                 image = self.compose.paths.work.product_img(variant)
                 os_tree = self.compose.paths.compose.os_tree(arch, variant)
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class ProductimgPhase(PhaseBase):
 
         for arch in self.compose.get_arches():
             for variant in self.compose.get_variants(arch=arch):
-                if variant.type != "variant":
+                if variant.type != "variant" or variant.is_empty:
                     continue
                 rebuild_boot_iso(self.compose, arch, variant, self.pkgset_phase.package_sets)
 
diff --git a/pungi/wrappers/variants.py b/pungi/wrappers/variants.py
index 6625642e..9448020f 100755
--- a/pungi/wrappers/variants.py
+++ b/pungi/wrappers/variants.py
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ class VariantsXmlParser(object):
             "groups": [],
             "environments": [],
             "buildinstallpackages": [],
+            "is_empty": bool(variant_node.attrib.get("is_empty", False)),
         }
         if self.tree_arches:
             variant_dict["arches"] = [i for i in variant_dict["arches"] if i in self.tree_arches]
@@ -162,7 +163,7 @@ class VariantsXmlParser(object):
 
 
 class Variant(object):
-    def __init__(self, id, name, type, arches, groups, environments=None, buildinstallpackages=None):
+    def __init__(self, id, name, type, arches, groups, environments=None, buildinstallpackages=None, is_empty=False):
         if not id.isalnum():
             raise ValueError("Variant ID must contain only alphanumeric characters: %s" % id)
 
@@ -178,6 +179,7 @@ class Variant(object):
         self.buildinstallpackages = sorted(buildinstallpackages)
         self.variants = {}
         self.parent = None
+        self.is_empty = is_empty
 
     def __getitem__(self, name):
         return self.variants[name]
diff --git a/share/variants.dtd b/share/variants.dtd
index 1944d022..49d48813 100644
--- a/share/variants.dtd
+++ b/share/variants.dtd
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 <!ELEMENT variants (ref*,variant*)>
 
-<!ELEMENT variant (release?,arches,groups,environments*,variants*,buildinstallpackages?)?>
+<!ELEMENT variant (release?,arches,groups?,environments*,variants*,buildinstallpackages?)?>
 <!ATTLIST variant
     id ID #REQUIRED
     name CDATA #REQUIRED
     type (variant|addon|optional|layered-product) #REQUIRED
     has_optional (true|false) #IMPLIED
+    is_empty (true|false) "false"
 >
 
 <!ELEMENT release (#PCDATA)>
diff --git a/tests/data/dummy-variants.xml b/tests/data/dummy-variants.xml
index 871ced2a..23591d77 100644
--- a/tests/data/dummy-variants.xml
+++ b/tests/data/dummy-variants.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,12 @@
     </groups>
   </variant>
 
+  <variant id="Live" name="Live" type="variant" is_empty="true">
+    <arches>
+      <arch>x86_64</arch>
+    </arches>
+  </variant>
+
   <variant id="Gluster" name="Gluster Layered Product" type="layered-product">
     <release name="Gluster" version="2.3" short="Gluster" />
     <arches>