diff --git a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
index 19af396..ce514b9 100644
--- a/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
+++ b/dotdrop/cfg_yaml.py
@@ -1258,6 +1258,9 @@ class CfgYaml:
         """recursively delete all none/empty values in a dictionary."""
         new = {}
         for k, v in dic.items():
+            if k == self.key_dotfiles and v:
+                new[k] = v
+                continue
             newv = v
             if isinstance(v, dict):
                 newv = self._clear_none(v)
diff --git a/tests-ng/import-with-empty.sh b/tests-ng/import-with-empty.sh
index 0c2c50b..b43fb93 100755
--- a/tests-ng/import-with-empty.sh
+++ b/tests-ng/import-with-empty.sh
@@ -93,11 +93,18 @@ profiles:
 _EOF
 
 echo "[+] import"
-#cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose | grep '^5 dotfile(s) installed.$'
 cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} import -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose ${dftoimport}
 [ "$?" != "0" ] && exit 1
 
-cat ${cfg}
+echo "[+] install"
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose | grep '^5 dotfile(s) installed.$'
+rm -f ${dftoimport}
+cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} install -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose | grep '^6 dotfile(s) installed.$'
+
+nb=`cd ${ddpath} | ${bin} files -c ${cfg} -p p1 --verbose | grep '^[a-zA-Z]' | wc -l`
+[ "${nb}" != "6" ] && echo 'error in dotfile list' && exit 1
+
+#cat ${cfg}
 
 ## CLEANING
 rm -rf ${basedir} ${tmpd}