diff --git a/src/ansys/dynamicreporting/core/utils/report_objects.py b/src/ansys/dynamicreporting/core/utils/report_objects.py
index cd05d1a28..9e6443d97 100755
--- a/src/ansys/dynamicreporting/core/utils/report_objects.py
+++ b/src/ansys/dynamicreporting/core/utils/report_objects.py
@@ -1151,8 +1151,9 @@ def validate_tree(t):
                 raise ValueError("Tree payload dictionaries must have a 'value' key")
             if "children" in i:
                 ItemREST.validate_tree(i["children"])
-            # validate tree value
-            ItemREST.validate_tree_value(i["value"])
+            # validate tree value, only at the last level of the tree or if value is not empty
+            if len(i.get("children", [])) == 0 or (i.get("value") or "").strip():
+                ItemREST.validate_tree_value(i["value"])
 
     def set_payload_tree(self, t):
         self.validate_tree(t)