diff --git a/packages/example/cypress.json b/packages/example/cypress.json
index 8b342cd2ecdc..628b3740dedd 100644
--- a/packages/example/cypress.json
+++ b/packages/example/cypress.json
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
 {
   "projectId": "2pz86o"
 }
+  
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/packages/server/__snapshots__/7_record_spec.js b/packages/server/__snapshots__/7_record_spec.js
index 4a79b4d1452f..84919a80e514 100644
--- a/packages/server/__snapshots__/7_record_spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/__snapshots__/7_record_spec.js
@@ -2531,3 +2531,98 @@ exports['e2e record api skips specs records tests and exits without executing in
   Exiting with non-zero exit code because the run was canceled.
 
 `
+
+exports['e2e record empty specs succeeds when empty spec file 1'] = `
+
+====================================================================================================
+
+  (Run Starting)
+
+  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+  │ Cypress:    1.2.3                                                                              │
+  │ Browser:    FooBrowser 88                                                                      │
+  │ Specs:      2 found (empty_suite.spec.js, empty.spec.js)                                       │
+  │ Searched:   cypress/integration/empty_suite.spec.js, cypress/integration/empty.spec.js         │
+  │ Params:     Tag: false, Group: false, Parallel: false                                          │
+  │ Run URL:    https://dashboard.cypress.io/projects/cjvoj7/runs/12                               │
+  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+
+
+────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+                                                                                                    
+  Running:  empty_suite.spec.js                                                             (1 of 2)
+  Estimated: 8 seconds
+
+
+  0 passing
+
+
+  (Results)
+
+  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+  │ Tests:        0                                                                                │
+  │ Passing:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Failing:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Pending:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Skipped:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Screenshots:  0                                                                                │
+  │ Video:        true                                                                             │
+  │ Duration:     X seconds                                                                        │
+  │ Estimated:    8 seconds                                                                        │
+  │ Spec Ran:     empty_suite.spec.js                                                              │
+  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+
+
+  (Uploading Results)
+
+  - Nothing to Upload
+
+────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+                                                                                                    
+  Running:  empty.spec.js                                                                   (2 of 2)
+  Estimated: 8 seconds
+
+
+  0 passing
+
+
+  (Results)
+
+  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+  │ Tests:        0                                                                                │
+  │ Passing:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Failing:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Pending:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Skipped:      0                                                                                │
+  │ Screenshots:  0                                                                                │
+  │ Video:        true                                                                             │
+  │ Duration:     X seconds                                                                        │
+  │ Estimated:    8 seconds                                                                        │
+  │ Spec Ran:     empty.spec.js                                                                    │
+  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+
+
+  (Uploading Results)
+
+  - Nothing to Upload
+
+====================================================================================================
+
+  (Run Finished)
+
+
+       Spec                                              Tests  Passing  Failing  Pending  Skipped  
+  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+  │ ✔  empty_suite.spec.js                      XX:XX        -        -        -        -        - │
+  ├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+  │ ✔  empty.spec.js                            XX:XX        -        -        -        -        - │
+  └────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+    ✔  All specs passed!                        XX:XX        -        -        -        -        -  
+
+
+───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+                                                                                                       
+  Recorded Run: https://dashboard.cypress.io/projects/cjvoj7/runs/12                                   
+
+
+`
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/modes/record.js b/packages/server/lib/modes/record.js
index 429ccea57239..122ac9183217 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/modes/record.js
+++ b/packages/server/lib/modes/record.js
@@ -721,9 +721,13 @@ const createRunAndRecordSpecs = (options = {}) => {
       const onTestsReceived = (async (runnables, cb) => {
         // we failed createInstance earlier, nothing to do
         if (!instanceId) {
-          return
+          return cb()
         }
 
+        // runnables will be null when there' no tests
+        // this also means runtimeConfig will be missing
+        runnables = runnables || {}
+
         const r = testsUtils.flattenSuiteIntoRunnables(runnables)
         const runtimeConfig = runnables.runtimeConfig
         const resolvedRuntimeConfig = Config.getResolvedRuntimeConfig(config, runtimeConfig)
diff --git a/packages/server/lib/util/tests_utils.ts b/packages/server/lib/util/tests_utils.ts
index 3242b81a28b4..61c78e94e4a6 100644
--- a/packages/server/lib/util/tests_utils.ts
+++ b/packages/server/lib/util/tests_utils.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,11 @@ export const flattenSuiteIntoRunnables = (suite, tests = [], hooks = []) => {
     )
   }
 
+  // if we dont have a suite, return early
+  if (!suite || !suite.suites) {
+    return [tests, hooks]
+  }
+
   tests = tests.concat(suite.tests)
   hooks = hooks.concat(suite.hooks)
 
diff --git a/packages/server/test/e2e/7_record_spec.js b/packages/server/test/e2e/7_record_spec.js
index d5f3cff96ce9..ed1c0ef55cbf 100644
--- a/packages/server/test/e2e/7_record_spec.js
+++ b/packages/server/test/e2e/7_record_spec.js
@@ -406,6 +406,36 @@ describe('e2e record', () => {
     })
   })
 
+  context('empty specs', () => {
+    setupStubbedServer(createRoutes())
+
+    // https://github.com/cypress-io/cypress/issues/15512
+    it('succeeds when empty spec file', async function () {
+      await e2e.exec(this, {
+        key: 'f858a2bc-b469-4e48-be67-0876339ee7e1',
+        record: true,
+        spec: 'empty_suite.spec.js,empty.spec.js',
+        snapshot: true,
+        expectedExitCode: 0,
+      })
+
+      expect(getRequestUrls()).deep.eq([
+        'POST /runs',
+        `POST /runs/${runId}/instances`,
+        `POST /instances/${instanceId}/tests`,
+        `POST /instances/${instanceId}/results`,
+        `PUT /instances/${instanceId}/stdout`,
+
+        `POST /runs/${runId}/instances`,
+        `POST /instances/${instanceId}/tests`,
+        `POST /instances/${instanceId}/results`,
+        `PUT /instances/${instanceId}/stdout`,
+
+        `POST /runs/${runId}/instances`,
+      ])
+    })
+  })
+
   context('projectId', () => {
     e2e.setup()
 
diff --git a/packages/server/test/support/fixtures/projects/e2e/cypress/integration/empty.spec.js b/packages/server/test/support/fixtures/projects/e2e/cypress/integration/empty.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..10a520a58a92
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/test/support/fixtures/projects/e2e/cypress/integration/empty.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+console.log('no tests!')
diff --git a/packages/server/test/support/fixtures/projects/e2e/cypress/integration/empty_suite.spec.js b/packages/server/test/support/fixtures/projects/e2e/cypress/integration/empty_suite.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..47543dfe3491
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/server/test/support/fixtures/projects/e2e/cypress/integration/empty_suite.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+console.log('no tests!')
+
+describe('suite', () => {
+})