diff --git a/libexec/rbenv-version-file b/libexec/rbenv-version-file
index c0550d64..a8335950 100755
--- a/libexec/rbenv-version-file
+++ b/libexec/rbenv-version-file
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ target_dir="$1"
 find_local_version_file() {
   local root="$1"
   while ! [[ "$root" =~ ^//[^/]*$ ]]; do
-    if [ -f "${root}/.ruby-version" ]; then
+    if [ -s "${root}/.ruby-version" ]; then
       echo "${root}/.ruby-version"
       return 0
     fi
diff --git a/test/version-file.bats b/test/version-file.bats
index d8cc74e3..075b002d 100644
--- a/test/version-file.bats
+++ b/test/version-file.bats
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ setup() {
 
 create_file() {
   mkdir -p "$(dirname "$1")"
-  touch "$1"
+  echo "system" > "$1"
 }
 
 @test "detects global 'version' file" {
diff --git a/test/version-origin.bats b/test/version-origin.bats
index 7bca376d..55138920 100644
--- a/test/version-origin.bats
+++ b/test/version-origin.bats
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ setup() {
 }
 
 @test "detects local file" {
-  touch .ruby-version
+  echo "system" > .ruby-version
   run rbenv-version-origin
   assert_success "${PWD}/.ruby-version"
 }