diff --git a/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.cpp b/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.cpp
index 2862755262b..a65a3a2777c 100644
--- a/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.cpp
+++ b/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.cpp
@@ -524,33 +524,46 @@ VecOwn<ram::Statement> AstToRamTranslator::generateStratumMainLoop(
     return loopSeq;
 }
 
-/** generate RAM code for recursive relations in a strongly-connected component */
-Own<ram::Statement> AstToRamTranslator::translateRecursiveRelation(
-        const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc) {
-    // -- Initialise all the individual sections --
-    auto preamble = generateStratumPreamble(scc);
-    auto loopSeq = generateStratumMainLoop(scc);
-    auto updateTable = generateStratumTableUpdates(scc);
-    auto postamble = generateStratumPostamble(scc);
-
-    // --- Combine the individual sections into the final fixpoint loop --
-    // Construct exit conditions for odd and even iteration
-    auto addCondition = [](Own<ram::Condition>& cond, Own<ram::Condition> clause) {
-        cond = ((cond) ? mk<ram::Conjunction>(std::move(cond), std::move(clause)) : std::move(clause));
+VecOwn<ram::Statement> AstToRamTranslator::generateStratumExitConditions(
+        const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc) const {
+    // Helper function to add a new term to a conjunctive condition
+    auto addCondition = [&](Own<ram::Condition>& cond, Own<ram::Condition> term) {
+        cond = (cond == nullptr) ? std::move(term) : mk<ram::Conjunction>(std::move(cond), std::move(term));
     };
 
-    Own<ram::Condition> exitCond;
-    VecOwn<ram::Statement> exitStmts;
+    VecOwn<ram::Statement> exitConditions;
+
+    // (1) if all relations in the scc are empty
+    Own<ram::Condition> emptinessCheck;
+    for (const ast::Relation* rel : scc) {
+        addCondition(emptinessCheck, mk<ram::EmptinessCheck>(getNewRelationName(rel)));
+    }
+    appendStmt(exitConditions, mk<ram::Exit>(std::move(emptinessCheck)));
+
+    // (2) if the size limit has been reached for any limitsize relations
     for (const ast::Relation* rel : scc) {
-        addCondition(exitCond, mk<ram::EmptinessCheck>(getNewRelationName(rel)));
         if (ioType->isLimitSize(rel)) {
             Own<ram::Condition> limit = mk<ram::Constraint>(BinaryConstraintOp::GE,
                     mk<ram::RelationSize>(getConcreteRelationName(rel)),
                     mk<ram::SignedConstant>(ioType->getLimitSize(rel)));
-            appendStmt(exitStmts, mk<ram::Exit>(std::move(limit)));
+            appendStmt(exitConditions, mk<ram::Exit>(std::move(limit)));
         }
     }
 
+    return exitConditions;
+}
+
+/** generate RAM code for recursive relations in a strongly-connected component */
+Own<ram::Statement> AstToRamTranslator::translateRecursiveRelation(
+        const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc) {
+    // -- Initialise all the individual sections --
+    auto preamble = generateStratumPreamble(scc);
+    auto loopSeq = generateStratumMainLoop(scc);
+    auto updateTable = generateStratumTableUpdates(scc);
+    auto exitConditions = generateStratumExitConditions(scc);
+    auto postamble = generateStratumPostamble(scc);
+
+    // --- Combine the individual sections into the final fixpoint loop --
     VecOwn<ram::Statement> res;
 
     // Add in the preamble
@@ -560,12 +573,11 @@ Own<ram::Statement> AstToRamTranslator::translateRecursiveRelation(
 
     // Add in the main loop and update sections
     auto loop = mk<ram::Parallel>(std::move(loopSeq));
-    if (!loop->getStatements().empty() && exitCond && !updateTable.empty()) {
-        auto ramExitCondition = mk<ram::Exit>(std::move(exitCond));
-        auto ramExitSequence = mk<ram::Sequence>(std::move(exitStmts));
+    if (!loop->getStatements().empty() && !exitConditions.empty() && !updateTable.empty()) {
+        auto ramExitSequence = mk<ram::Sequence>(std::move(exitConditions));
         auto ramUpdateSequence = mk<ram::Sequence>(std::move(updateTable));
-        auto ramLoopSequence = mk<ram::Loop>(mk<ram::Sequence>(std::move(loop), std::move(ramExitCondition),
-                std::move(ramExitSequence), std::move(ramUpdateSequence)));
+        auto ramLoopSequence = mk<ram::Loop>(
+                mk<ram::Sequence>(std::move(loop), std::move(ramExitSequence), std::move(ramUpdateSequence)));
         appendStmt(res, std::move(ramLoopSequence));
     }
 
diff --git a/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.h b/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.h
index 096f83744ea..f3b42275d5b 100644
--- a/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.h
+++ b/src/ast2ram/AstToRamTranslator.h
@@ -166,6 +166,7 @@ class AstToRamTranslator {
     VecOwn<ram::Statement> generateStratumPostamble(const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc) const;
     VecOwn<ram::Statement> generateStratumTableUpdates(const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc) const;
     VecOwn<ram::Statement> generateStratumMainLoop(const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc);
+    VecOwn<ram::Statement> generateStratumExitConditions(const std::set<const ast::Relation*>& scc) const;
 };
 
 }  // namespace souffle::ast2ram