diff --git a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
index 9990fff..8811f80 100644
--- a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
+++ b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
@@ -221,19 +221,29 @@ class CfgYaml:
         for dotfile in self.dotfiles.values():
             # src
             src = dotfile[self.key_dotfile_src]
-            new = t.generate_string(src)
-            if new != src and self.debug:
-                self.log.dbg('dotfile: {} -> {}'.format(src, new))
-            src = new
-            src = os.path.join(self.settings[self.key_settings_dotpath], src)
-            dotfile[self.key_dotfile_src] = self._norm_path(src)
+            if not src:
+                dotfile[self.key_dotfile_src] = ''
+            else:
+                new = t.generate_string(src)
+                if new != src and self.debug:
+                    msg = 'dotfile src: \"{}\" -> \"{}\"'.format(src, new)
+                    self.log.dbg(msg)
+                src = new
+                src = os.path.join(self.settings[self.key_settings_dotpath],
+                                   src)
+                dotfile[self.key_dotfile_src] = self._norm_path(src)
+
             # dst
             dst = dotfile[self.key_dotfile_dst]
-            new = t.generate_string(dst)
-            if new != dst and self.debug:
-                self.log.dbg('dotfile: {} -> {}'.format(dst, new))
-            dst = new
-            dotfile[self.key_dotfile_dst] = self._norm_path(dst)
+            if not dst:
+                dotfile[self.key_dotfile_dst] = ''
+            else:
+                new = t.generate_string(dst)
+                if new != dst and self.debug:
+                    msg = 'dotfile dst: \"{}\" -> \"{}\"'.format(dst, new)
+                    self.log.dbg(msg)
+                dst = new
+                dotfile[self.key_dotfile_dst] = self._norm_path(dst)
 
     def _rec_resolve_vars(self, variables):
         """recursive resolve variables"""
@@ -980,6 +990,8 @@ class CfgYaml:
 
     def _norm_path(self, path):
         """resolve a path either absolute or relative to config path"""
+        if not path:
+            return path
         path = os.path.expanduser(path)
         if not os.path.isabs(path):
             d = os.path.dirname(self.path)
diff --git a/dotdrop/installer.py b/dotdrop/installer.py
index c61cf98..b37faa0 100644
--- a/dotdrop/installer.py
+++ b/dotdrop/installer.py
@@ -68,7 +68,11 @@ class Installer:
         - False, None       : ignored
         """
         if self.debug:
-            self.log.dbg('install {} to {}'.format(src, dst))
+            self.log.dbg('install \"{}\" to \"{}\"'.format(src, dst))
+        if not dst or not src:
+            if self.debug:
+                self.log.dbg('empty dst for {}'.format(src))
+            return True, None
         self.action_executed = False
         src = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(src))
         if not os.path.exists(src):
@@ -107,7 +111,11 @@ class Installer:
         - False, None       : ignored
         """
         if self.debug:
-            self.log.dbg('link {} to {}'.format(src, dst))
+            self.log.dbg('link \"{}\" to \"{}\"'.format(src, dst))
+        if not dst or not src:
+            if self.debug:
+                self.log.dbg('empty dst for {}'.format(src))
+            return True, None
         self.action_executed = False
         src = os.path.normpath(os.path.join(self.base,
                                             os.path.expanduser(src)))
@@ -144,7 +152,11 @@ class Installer:
         - False, None, ignored
         """
         if self.debug:
-            self.log.dbg('link_children {} to {}'.format(src, dst))
+            self.log.dbg('link_children \"{}\" to \"{}\"'.format(src, dst))
+        if not dst or not src:
+            if self.debug:
+                self.log.dbg('empty dst for {}'.format(src))
+            return True, None
         self.action_executed = False
         parent = os.path.join(self.base, os.path.expanduser(src))
 
diff --git a/tests-ng/install-empty.sh b/tests-ng/install-empty.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..2887ec8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests-ng/install-empty.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# author: deadc0de6 (https://github.com/deadc0de6)
+# Copyright (c) 2019, deadc0de6
+#
+# test install empty dst or empty src
+# returns 1 in case of error
+#
+
+# exit on first error
+#set -e
+
+# all this crap to get current path
+rl="readlink -f"
+if ! ${rl} "${0}" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  rl="realpath"
+
+  if ! hash ${rl}; then
+    echo "\"${rl}\" not found !" && exit 1
+  fi
+fi
+cur=$(dirname "$(${rl} "${0}")")
+
+#hash dotdrop >/dev/null 2>&1
+#[ "$?" != "0" ] && echo "install dotdrop to run tests" && exit 1
+
+#echo "called with ${1}"
+
+# dotdrop path can be pass as argument
+ddpath="${cur}/../"
+[ "${1}" != "" ] && ddpath="${1}"
+[ ! -d ${ddpath} ] && echo "ddpath \"${ddpath}\" is not a directory" && exit 1
+
+export PYTHONPATH="${ddpath}:${PYTHONPATH}"
+bin="python3 -m dotdrop.dotdrop"
+
+echo "dotdrop path: ${ddpath}"
+echo "pythonpath: ${PYTHONPATH}"
+
+# get the helpers
+source ${cur}/helpers
+
+echo -e "$(tput setaf 6)==> RUNNING $(basename $BASH_SOURCE) <==$(tput sgr0)"
+
+################################################################
+# this is the test
+################################################################
+
+# dotdrop directory
+basedir=`mktemp -d --suffix='-dotdrop-tests' || mktemp -d`
+echo "[+] dotdrop dir: ${basedir}"
+echo "[+] dotpath dir: ${basedir}/dotfiles"
+
+# create the config file
+cfg="${basedir}/config.yaml"
+cat > ${cfg} << _EOF
+config:
+  backup: true
+  create: true
+  dotpath: dotfiles
+dotfiles:
+  f_x:
+    src: /tmp/x
+    dst:
+  f_y:
+    src:
+    dst: /tmp/y
+  f_z:
+    src:
+    dst:
+profiles:
+  qube:
+    dotfiles:
+    - f_x
+    - f_y
+    - f_z
+
+_EOF
+
+echo "[+] install"
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} --verbose | grep '^3 dotfile(s) installed.$'
+[ "$?" != "0" ] && exit 1
+
+## CLEANING
+rm -rf ${basedir}
+
+echo "OK"
+exit 0