diff --git a/sdm/libs/hwc2/hwc_display_external.cpp b/sdm/libs/hwc2/hwc_display_external.cpp
index 8e00cfda..04595ba5 100644
--- a/sdm/libs/hwc2/hwc_display_external.cpp
+++ b/sdm/libs/hwc2/hwc_display_external.cpp
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ HWC2::Error HWCDisplayExternal::Validate(uint32_t *out_num_types, uint32_t *out_
 
   if (layer_set_.empty()) {
     flush_ = true;
+    validated_ = true;
     return status;
   }