diff --git a/sdk/python/kfp/components/_python_op.py b/sdk/python/kfp/components/_python_op.py
index 4faaa2ede9..3710a6c672 100644
--- a/sdk/python/kfp/components/_python_op.py
+++ b/sdk/python/kfp/components/_python_op.py
@@ -287,10 +287,9 @@ def _func_to_component_spec(func, extra_code='', base_image=_default_base_image,
         '_parsed_args = vars(_parser.parse_args())',
     ])
 
-    if component_spec.outputs:
-        arg_parse_code_lines.extend([
-            '_output_files = _parsed_args.pop("_output_paths")',
-        ])
+    arg_parse_code_lines.extend([
+        '_output_files = _parsed_args.pop("_output_paths", [])',
+    ])
 
     full_source = \
 '''\