diff --git a/esphome/config.py b/esphome/config.py
index ac22db37ad..debd261b41 100644
--- a/esphome/config.py
+++ b/esphome/config.py
@@ -450,7 +450,9 @@ def validate_config(config):
         result.remove_output_path([domain], domain)
 
         # Ensure conf is a list
-        if not isinstance(conf, list) and conf:
+        if not conf:
+            result[domain] = conf = []
+        elif not isinstance(conf, list):
             result[domain] = conf = [conf]
 
         for i, p_config in enumerate(conf):
diff --git a/tests/test2.yaml b/tests/test2.yaml
index 2b7ddebf3c..e3a9b0da85 100644
--- a/tests/test2.yaml
+++ b/tests/test2.yaml
@@ -238,3 +238,6 @@ interval:
   interval: 5s
   then:
     - logger.log: "Interval Run"
+
+display:
+