diff --git a/gammapy/data/observations.py b/gammapy/data/observations.py
index 03907f45e2..feb27eb776 100644
--- a/gammapy/data/observations.py
+++ b/gammapy/data/observations.py
@@ -340,9 +340,10 @@ def select_time(self, time_interval):
             A new observations instance of the specified time interval
         """
         new_obs_list = []
+
         for obs in self:
-            new_obs = obs.select_time(time_interval)
-            if len(new_obs.gti.table) > 0:
+            if (obs.tstart < time_interval[1]) & (obs.tstop > time_interval[0]):
+                new_obs = obs.select_time(time_interval)
                 new_obs_list.append(new_obs)
 
         return self.__class__(new_obs_list)