diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py
index 2766887b0f..9f6656084d 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/outlines.py
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ def _bubbled_up_groups_from_units(group_access_from_units):
         return {
             user_partition_id: sorted(group_ids)  # sorted for easier comparison
             for user_partition_id, group_ids in group_access.items()
+            if group_ids  # Ignore empty groups
         }
 
     normalized_group_access_dicts = [
diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py
index c4bd28e70b..0e75fe8076 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/tests/test_outlines.py
@@ -348,7 +348,10 @@ class OutlineFromModuleStoreTestCase(ModuleStoreTestCase):
                 parent_location=seq_1.location,
                 category='vertical',
                 display_name='Single Vertical',
-                group_access={50: [1, 2]},
+                group_access={
+                    50: [1, 2],
+                    51: [],  # Empty group shouldn't bubble up.
+                },
             )
 
         outline, errs = get_outline_from_modulestore(self.course_key)