diff --git a/guix/import/pypi.scm b/guix/import/pypi.scm
index 70ef507666..efa69081ef 100644
--- a/guix/import/pypi.scm
+++ b/guix/import/pypi.scm
@@ -175,8 +175,10 @@ (define (read-wheel-metadata wheel-archive)
                  (lambda (port)
                    (let* ((metadata (json->scm port))
                           (run_requires (hash-ref metadata "run_requires"))
-                          (requirements (hash-ref (list-ref run_requires 0)
-                                                  "requires")))
+                          (requirements (if run_requires
+                                            (hash-ref (list-ref run_requires 0)
+                                                       "requires")
+                                            '())))
                      (map (lambda (r)
                             (python->package-name (clean-requirement r)))
                           requirements)))))