diff --git a/src/clean_agent_preview.py b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
index 03bff0118..36e51c764 100644
--- a/src/clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/src/clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -1436,7 +1436,8 @@ def runtime_required_artifacts(user_text, client_runtime_context):
                 path = str(value or '').strip().rstrip('/')
                 if path and path not in paths:
                     paths.append(path)
-            return tuple(paths)
+            if paths:
+                return tuple(paths)
     paths = []
     for value in declared_workspace_artifacts(user_text):
         path = str(value or '').strip().rstrip('/')
diff --git a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
index 4937c885f..a7208e094 100644
--- a/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
+++ b/tests/test_clean_agent_preview.py
@@ -477,6 +477,13 @@ def test_prompt_output_path_is_tracked_without_its_source_path():
     ) == ('/workspace/output.html',)
 
 
+def test_empty_runner_artifact_list_falls_back_to_prompt_output_path():
+    assert runtime_required_artifacts(
+        'Create an HTML report at /workspace/output.html from /workspace/input.csv.',
+        {'completion_requirements': {'required_artifacts': []}},
+    ) == ('/workspace/output.html',)
+
+
 def test_preferences_are_inputs_not_required_outputs_for_a_saved_digest():
     from src.clean_agent_preview import declared_workspace_artifacts