diff --git a/lib/count-loc.js b/lib/count-loc.js
index 6bc1fff41d..8164746edb 100644
--- a/lib/count-loc.js
+++ b/lib/count-loc.js
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ exports.getIdPrefix = getIdPrefix;
 async function countLoc(cwd, include, exclude, dbLanguages, logger) {
     const result = await new github_linguist_1.LocDir({
         cwd,
-        include: ["**"].concat(include || []),
+        include: Array.isArray(include) && include.length > 0 ? include : ["**"],
         exclude,
         analysisLanguages: dbLanguages.flatMap((lang) => nameToLinguist[lang]),
     }).loadInfo();
diff --git a/lib/count-loc.js.map b/lib/count-loc.js.map
index 91323d7631..8f01c52413 100644
--- a/lib/count-loc.js.map
+++ b/lib/count-loc.js.map
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"version":3,"file":"count-loc.js","sourceRoot":"","sources":["../src/count-loc.ts"],"names":[],"mappings":";;AAAA,qDAAyC;AAEzC,2CAAuC;AAEvC,iCAAqC;AAKrC,sFAAsF;AACtF,MAAM,iBAAiB,GAA6B;IAClD,CAAC,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;IACf,KAAK,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;IACnB,IAAI,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;IACrB,EAAE,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,EAAE;IACf,IAAI,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,IAAI;IACnB,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU;IAC/B,MAAM,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;IACvB,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU;CAChC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,cAAc,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,iBAAiB,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CAC7D,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IACnB,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE;QACd,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC;KAChB;IACD,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC;IACpB,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC;AACb,CAAC,EACD,EAAgC,CACjC,CAAC;AAEF,SAAgB,WAAW,CAAC,QAAkB;IAC5C,QAAQ,QAAQ,EAAE;QAChB,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;YACf,OAAO,KAAK,CAAC;QACf,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;YAClB,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QACd,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,EAAE;YACd,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QACd,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,IAAI;YAChB,OAAO,MAAM,CAAC;QAChB,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU;YACtB,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QACd,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;YAClB,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QAEd;YACE,kBAAW,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,CAAC;KACzB;AACH,CAAC;AAlBD,kCAkBC;AAED;;;;;;;;;GASG;AACI,KAAK,UAAU,QAAQ,CAC5B,GAAW,EACX,OAAiB,EACjB,OAAiB,EACjB,WAAuB,EACvB,MAAc;IAEd,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,wBAAM,CAAC;QAC9B,GAAG;QACH,OAAO,EAAE,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,IAAI,EAAE,CAAC;QACrC,OAAO;QACP,iBAAiB,EAAE,WAAW,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,cAAc,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC;KACvE,CAAC,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC;IAEd,uDAAuD;IACvD,uDAAuD;IACvD,2DAA2D;IAC3D,MAAM,UAAU,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CACxD,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,EAAE,IAAI,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;QAC5B,MAAM,eAAe,GAAG,iBAAiB,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,CAAC;QACpD,IAAI,eAAe,IAAI,WAAW,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,eAAe,CAAC,EAAE;YAC5D,GAAG,CAAC,eAAe,CAAC,GAAG,IAAI,GAAG,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,eAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;SAC3D;QACD,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC;IACb,CAAC,EACD,EAA8B,CAC/B,CAAC;IAEF,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE;QAClC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,sBAAsB,CAAC,CAAC;QACrC,KAAK,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EAAE;YAC1D,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,QAAQ,KAAK,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;SACzC;KACF;SAAM;QACL,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,CACT,4EAA4E;YAC1E,0EAA0E;YAC1E,sEAAsE;YACtE,4EAA4E;YAC5E,iEAAiE;YACjE,wEAAwE;YACxE,gFAAgF;YAChF,yBAAyB,CAC5B,CAAC;KACH;IAED,OAAO,UAAU,CAAC;AACpB,CAAC;AA/CD,4BA+CC"}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"version":3,"file":"count-loc.js","sourceRoot":"","sources":["../src/count-loc.ts"],"names":[],"mappings":";;AAAA,qDAAyC;AAEzC,2CAAuC;AAEvC,iCAAqC;AAKrC,sFAAsF;AACtF,MAAM,iBAAiB,GAA6B;IAClD,CAAC,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;IACf,KAAK,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;IACnB,IAAI,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;IACrB,EAAE,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,EAAE;IACf,IAAI,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,IAAI;IACnB,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU;IAC/B,MAAM,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;IACvB,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU;CAChC,CAAC;AAEF,MAAM,cAAc,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,iBAAiB,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CAC7D,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IACnB,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,EAAE;QACd,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC;KAChB;IACD,GAAG,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC;IACpB,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC;AACb,CAAC,EACD,EAAgC,CACjC,CAAC;AAEF,SAAgB,WAAW,CAAC,QAAkB;IAC5C,QAAQ,QAAQ,EAAE;QAChB,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG;YACf,OAAO,KAAK,CAAC;QACf,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;YAClB,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QACd,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,EAAE;YACd,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QACd,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,IAAI;YAChB,OAAO,MAAM,CAAC;QAChB,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU;YACtB,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QACd,KAAK,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM;YAClB,OAAO,IAAI,CAAC;QAEd;YACE,kBAAW,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,CAAC;KACzB;AACH,CAAC;AAlBD,kCAkBC;AAED;;;;;;;;;GASG;AACI,KAAK,UAAU,QAAQ,CAC5B,GAAW,EACX,OAAiB,EACjB,OAAiB,EACjB,WAAuB,EACvB,MAAc;IAEd,MAAM,MAAM,GAAG,MAAM,IAAI,wBAAM,CAAC;QAC9B,GAAG;QACH,OAAO,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,IAAI,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,GAAG,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC;QACxE,OAAO;QACP,iBAAiB,EAAE,WAAW,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,CAAC,IAAI,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,cAAc,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC;KACvE,CAAC,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,CAAC;IAEd,uDAAuD;IACvD,uDAAuD;IACvD,2DAA2D;IAC3D,MAAM,UAAU,GAAG,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,CACxD,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,EAAE,IAAI,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;QAC5B,MAAM,eAAe,GAAG,iBAAiB,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,CAAC;QACpD,IAAI,eAAe,IAAI,WAAW,CAAC,QAAQ,CAAC,eAAe,CAAC,EAAE;YAC5D,GAAG,CAAC,eAAe,CAAC,GAAG,IAAI,GAAG,CAAC,GAAG,CAAC,eAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;SAC3D;QACD,OAAO,GAAG,CAAC;IACb,CAAC,EACD,EAA8B,CAC/B,CAAC;IAEF,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE;QAClC,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,sBAAsB,CAAC,CAAC;QACrC,KAAK,MAAM,CAAC,QAAQ,EAAE,KAAK,CAAC,IAAI,MAAM,CAAC,OAAO,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EAAE;YAC1D,MAAM,CAAC,KAAK,CAAC,KAAK,QAAQ,KAAK,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;SACzC;KACF;SAAM;QACL,MAAM,CAAC,IAAI,CACT,4EAA4E;YAC1E,0EAA0E;YAC1E,sEAAsE;YACtE,4EAA4E;YAC5E,iEAAiE;YACjE,wEAAwE;YACxE,gFAAgF;YAChF,yBAAyB,CAC5B,CAAC;KACH;IAED,OAAO,UAAU,CAAC;AACpB,CAAC;AA/CD,4BA+CC"}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/lib/count-loc.test.js b/lib/count-loc.test.js
index cb6a437a34..cec4bc30d0 100644
--- a/lib/count-loc.test.js
+++ b/lib/count-loc.test.js
@@ -40,7 +40,15 @@ ava_1.default("ensure lines of code can handle includes", async (t) => {
     // directories outside the normal structure.
     const results = await count_loc_1.countLoc(path.join(__dirname, "../tests/multi-language-repo"), ["../../src/testdata"], [], [languages_1.Language.javascript], logging_1.getRunnerLogger(true));
     t.deepEqual(results, {
-        javascript: 15,
+        javascript: 12,
+    });
+});
+ava_1.default("ensure lines of code can handle empty includes", async (t) => {
+    // note that "**" is always included. The includes are for extra
+    // directories outside the normal structure.
+    const results = await count_loc_1.countLoc(path.join(__dirname, "../tests/multi-language-repo"), ["idontexist"], [], [languages_1.Language.javascript], logging_1.getRunnerLogger(true));
+    t.deepEqual(results, {
+    // should get no results
     });
 });
 ava_1.default("ensure lines of code can handle exclude", async (t) => {
diff --git a/lib/count-loc.test.js.map b/lib/count-loc.test.js.map
index 27903a40f5..5dab456a39 100644
--- a/lib/count-loc.test.js.map
+++ b/lib/count-loc.test.js.map
@@ -1 +1 @@
-{"version":3,"file":"count-loc.test.js","sourceRoot":"","sources":["../src/count-loc.test.ts"],"names":[],"mappings":";;;;;;;;;;;;AAAA,2CAA6B;AAE7B,8CAAuB;AAEvB,2CAAuC;AACvC,2CAAuC;AACvC,uCAA4C;AAC5C,mDAA6C;AAE7C,0BAAU,CAAC,aAAI,CAAC,CAAC;AAEjB,aAAI,CAAC,2CAA2C,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAC5D,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EACnC,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC;QACN,UAAU,EAAE,CAAC;KACd,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,oDAAoD,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IACrE,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,SAAqB,CAAC,EAC7D,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,UAAU,EAAE,CAAC;QACb,MAAM,EAAE,CAAC;KACV,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,iDAAiD,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAClE,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;AAC3B,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,0CAA0C,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAC3D,gEAAgE;IAChE,4CAA4C;IAC5C,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,CAAC,oBAAoB,CAAC,EACtB,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EACrB,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,UAAU,EAAE,EAAE;KACf,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,yCAAyC,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAC1D,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,EACX,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EACtC,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,UAAU,EAAE,CAAC;KACd,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC"}
\ No newline at end of file
+{"version":3,"file":"count-loc.test.js","sourceRoot":"","sources":["../src/count-loc.test.ts"],"names":[],"mappings":";;;;;;;;;;;;AAAA,2CAA6B;AAE7B,8CAAuB;AAEvB,2CAAuC;AACvC,2CAAuC;AACvC,uCAA4C;AAC5C,mDAA6C;AAE7C,0BAAU,CAAC,aAAI,CAAC,CAAC;AAEjB,aAAI,CAAC,2CAA2C,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAC5D,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,GAAG,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EACnC,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,GAAG,EAAE,CAAC;QACN,UAAU,EAAE,CAAC;KACd,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,oDAAoD,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IACrE,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM,EAAE,SAAqB,CAAC,EAC7D,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,UAAU,EAAE,CAAC;QACb,MAAM,EAAE,CAAC;KACV,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,iDAAiD,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAClE,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,EAAE,EACF,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE,EAAE,CAAC,CAAC;AAC3B,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,0CAA0C,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAC3D,gEAAgE;IAChE,4CAA4C;IAC5C,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,CAAC,oBAAoB,CAAC,EACtB,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EACrB,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,UAAU,EAAE,EAAE;KACf,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,gDAAgD,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IACjE,gEAAgE;IAChE,4CAA4C;IAC5C,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,CAAC,YAAY,CAAC,EACd,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,CAAC,EACrB,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;IACnB,wBAAwB;KACzB,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC;AAEH,aAAI,CAAC,yCAAyC,EAAE,KAAK,EAAE,CAAC,EAAE,EAAE;IAC1D,MAAM,OAAO,GAAG,MAAM,oBAAQ,CAC5B,IAAI,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,SAAS,EAAE,8BAA8B,CAAC,EACpD,EAAE,EACF,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,EACX,CAAC,oBAAQ,CAAC,UAAU,EAAE,oBAAQ,CAAC,MAAM,CAAC,EACtC,yBAAe,CAAC,IAAI,CAAC,CACtB,CAAC;IAEF,CAAC,CAAC,SAAS,CAAC,OAAO,EAAE;QACnB,UAAU,EAAE,CAAC;KACd,CAAC,CAAC;AACL,CAAC,CAAC,CAAC"}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/count-loc.test.ts b/src/count-loc.test.ts
index 56a1b10c59..0cf1d54c23 100644
--- a/src/count-loc.test.ts
+++ b/src/count-loc.test.ts
@@ -63,7 +63,23 @@ test("ensure lines of code can handle includes", async (t) => {
   );
 
   t.deepEqual(results, {
-    javascript: 15,
+    javascript: 12,
+  });
+});
+
+test("ensure lines of code can handle empty includes", async (t) => {
+  // note that "**" is always included. The includes are for extra
+  // directories outside the normal structure.
+  const results = await countLoc(
+    path.join(__dirname, "../tests/multi-language-repo"),
+    ["idontexist"],
+    [],
+    [Language.javascript],
+    getRunnerLogger(true)
+  );
+
+  t.deepEqual(results, {
+    // should get no results
   });
 });
 
diff --git a/src/count-loc.ts b/src/count-loc.ts
index 9c971ffe44..61a441678c 100644
--- a/src/count-loc.ts
+++ b/src/count-loc.ts
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ export async function countLoc(
 ): Promise<Partial<Record<Language, number>>> {
   const result = await new LocDir({
     cwd,
-    include: ["**"].concat(include || []),
+    include: Array.isArray(include) && include.length > 0 ? include : ["**"],
     exclude,
     analysisLanguages: dbLanguages.flatMap((lang) => nameToLinguist[lang]),
   }).loadInfo();