diff --git a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/sshdeviceprocess.cpp b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/sshdeviceprocess.cpp
index b34e0ce8053..3bb813d55de 100644
--- a/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/sshdeviceprocess.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/projectexplorer/devicesupport/sshdeviceprocess.cpp
@@ -245,13 +245,19 @@ void SshDeviceProcess::handleProcessFinished(int exitStatus)
 
 void SshDeviceProcess::handleStdout()
 {
-    d->stdOut += d->process->readAllStandardOutput();
+    QByteArray output = d->process->readAllStandardOutput();
+    if (output.isEmpty())
+        return;
+    d->stdOut += output;
     emit readyReadStandardOutput();
 }
 
 void SshDeviceProcess::handleStderr()
 {
-    d->stdErr += d->process->readAllStandardError();
+    QByteArray output = d->process->readAllStandardError();
+    if (output.isEmpty())
+        return;
+    d->stdErr += output;
     emit readyReadStandardError();
 }