diff --git a/utils_maintenance/autopep8_format_paths.py b/utils_maintenance/autopep8_format_paths.py
index 158ec327bd42a903836726132ce7d571b236bcd5..e6f3cd7b00b1ea2b6ed8564f357e74b665e2ba33 100644
--- a/utils_maintenance/autopep8_format_paths.py
+++ b/utils_maintenance/autopep8_format_paths.py
@@ -136,6 +136,10 @@ def main():
         if f not in ignore_files
     ]
 
+    # Happens when users run "make format" passing in individual C/C++ files.
+    if not files:
+        return
+
     autopep8_format(files)