diff --git a/pkg/protoc/proto_compiled_sources.go b/pkg/protoc/proto_compiled_sources.go
index 28cab0d26..a9e61bd9e 100644
--- a/pkg/protoc/proto_compiled_sources.go
+++ b/pkg/protoc/proto_compiled_sources.go
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ func (s *protoCompiledSources) LoadInfo() rule.LoadInfo {
 
 // ProvideRule implements part of the LanguageRule interface.
 func (s *protoCompiledSources) ProvideRule(cfg *LanguageRuleConfig, config *ProtocConfiguration) RuleProvider {
+	if len(config.Outputs) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
 	return &protoCompileRule{
 		kind:            "proto_compiled_sources",
 		nameSuffix:      "compiled_sources",