diff --git a/labelbox/schema/dataset.py b/labelbox/schema/dataset.py
index 3c98a966d..abf91da25 100644
--- a/labelbox/schema/dataset.py
+++ b/labelbox/schema/dataset.py
@@ -41,6 +41,14 @@ class DataRowUpsertItem(BaseModel):
     id: dict
     payload: dict
 
+    def is_empty(self) -> bool:
+        """
+        The payload is considered empty if it's actually empty or the only key is `dataset_id`.
+        :return: bool
+        """
+        return (not self.payload or
+                len(self.payload.keys()) == 1 and "dataset_id" in self.payload)
+
 
 class Dataset(DbObject, Updateable, Deletable):
     """ A Dataset is a collection of DataRows.
@@ -829,6 +837,14 @@ def upsert_data_rows(self, items, file_upload_thread_count=20) -> "Task":
             )
 
         specs = self._convert_items_to_upsert_format(items)
+
+        empty_specs = list(filter(lambda spec: spec.is_empty(), specs))
+
+        if empty_specs:
+            ids = list(map(lambda spec: spec.id.get("value"), empty_specs))
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"The following items have an empty payload: {ids}")
+
         chunks = [
             specs[i:i + self.__upsert_chunk_size]
             for i in range(0, len(specs), self.__upsert_chunk_size)
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_data_rows_upsert.py b/tests/integration/test_data_rows_upsert.py
index 2cc893476..a17f87f8f 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_data_rows_upsert.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_data_rows_upsert.py
@@ -263,3 +263,9 @@ def test_upsert_duplicate_global_key_error(self, dataset, image_url):
         assert task.errors is not None
         assert len(task.errors) == 1  # one data row was created, one failed
         assert f"Duplicate global key: '{gkey}'" in task.errors[0]['message']
+
+    def test_upsert_empty_items(self, dataset):
+        items = [{"key": GlobalKey("foo")}]
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError) as e_info:
+            dataset.upsert_data_rows(items)
+        e_info.match(r"The following items have an empty payload: \['foo'\]")