diff --git a/flags.cc b/flags.cc
index 07b57483..54828e56 100644
--- a/flags.cc
+++ b/flags.cc
@@ -82,6 +82,8 @@ void Flags::Parse(int argc, char** argv) {
       enable_kati_warnings = true;
     } else if (!strcmp(arg, "--ninja")) {
       generate_ninja = true;
+    } else if (!strcmp(arg, "--empty_ninja_file")) {
+      generate_empty_ninja = true;
     } else if (!strcmp(arg, "--gen_all_targets")) {
       gen_all_targets = true;
     } else if (!strcmp(arg, "--regen")) {
diff --git a/flags.h b/flags.h
index 025979a6..62865a35 100644
--- a/flags.h
+++ b/flags.h
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ struct Flags {
   bool enable_stat_logs;
   bool gen_all_targets;
   bool generate_ninja;
+  bool generate_empty_ninja;
   bool is_dry_run;
   bool is_silent_mode;
   bool is_syntax_check_only;
diff --git a/ninja.cc b/ninja.cc
index 0b87d5c6..90e56c83 100644
--- a/ninja.cc
+++ b/ninja.cc
@@ -629,8 +629,10 @@ class NinjaGenerator {
     }
     tp->Wait();
 
-    for (const ostringstream& buf : bufs) {
-      fprintf(fp_, "%s", buf.str().c_str());
+    if (!g_flags.generate_empty_ninja) {
+      for (const ostringstream& buf : bufs) {
+        fprintf(fp_, "%s", buf.str().c_str());
+      }
     }
 
     SymbolSet used_env_vars(Vars::used_env_vars());
@@ -652,8 +654,10 @@ class NinjaGenerator {
         default_targets += EscapeBuildTarget(s);
       }
     }
-    fprintf(fp_, "\n");
-    fprintf(fp_, "default %s\n", default_targets.c_str());
+    if (!g_flags.generate_empty_ninja) {
+      fprintf(fp_, "\n");
+      fprintf(fp_, "default %s\n", default_targets.c_str());
+    }
 
     fclose(fp_);
   }