diff --git a/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/core.sql b/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/core.sql
index a152cd76cec..5051c5cb062 100644
--- a/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/core.sql
+++ b/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/core.sql
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {% macro statement(name=None, fetch_result=False, auto_begin=True) -%}
   {%- if execute: -%}
-    {%- set sql = render(caller()) -%}
+    {%- set sql = caller() -%}
 
     {%- if name == 'main' -%}
       {{ log('Writing runtime SQL for node "{}"'.format(model['unique_id'])) }}
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 {%- endmacro %}
 
 {% macro noop_statement(name=None, status=None, res=None) -%}
-  {%- set sql = render(caller()) -%}
+  {%- set sql = caller() -%}
 
   {%- if name == 'main' -%}
     {{ log('Writing runtime SQL for node "{}"'.format(model['unique_id'])) }}
diff --git a/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/materializations/helpers.sql b/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/materializations/helpers.sql
index da78eb93506..dc21ac5d3ba 100644
--- a/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/materializations/helpers.sql
+++ b/core/dbt/include/global_project/macros/materializations/helpers.sql
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@
         commit;
       {% endcall %}
     {% endif %}
-    {% call statement(auto_begin=inside_transaction) %}
-      {{ hook.get('sql') }}
-    {% endcall %}
+    {% set rendered = render(hook.get('sql')) | trim %}
+    {% if (rendered | length) > 0 %}
+      {% call statement(auto_begin=inside_transaction) %}
+        {{ rendered }}
+      {% endcall %}
+    {% endif %}
   {% endfor %}
 {% endmacro %}