diff --git a/Sources/XcodeProj/Objects/Project/PBXProject.swift b/Sources/XcodeProj/Objects/Project/PBXProject.swift
index 14e89699..7c6e51fb 100644
--- a/Sources/XcodeProj/Objects/Project/PBXProject.swift
+++ b/Sources/XcodeProj/Objects/Project/PBXProject.swift
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ extension PBXProject: PlistSerializable {
                 (value as? PBXObject)?.reference.value ?? value
             }
         }
-        plistAttributes[PBXProject.targetAttributesKey] = plistTargetAttributes
+        plistAttributes[PBXProject.targetAttributesKey] = plistTargetAttributes.isEmpty ? nil : plistTargetAttributes
 
         dictionary["attributes"] = plistAttributes.plist()