diff --git a/scripts/deb/post-install.sh b/scripts/deb/post-install.sh
index d7d23883e21b9..bdd79f79182f1 100644
--- a/scripts/deb/post-install.sh
+++ b/scripts/deb/post-install.sh
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ test -d "$STATE_DIR" || {
 STATE_FILE="$STATE_DIR/statefile"
 test -f "$STATE_FILE" || {
     touch "$STATE_FILE"
+    echo {} > "$STATE_FILE"
     chown root:telegraf "$STATE_FILE"
     chmod 660 "$STATE_FILE"
 }
diff --git a/scripts/rpm/post-install.sh b/scripts/rpm/post-install.sh
index a6f05754a883c..bd88343b5b192 100644
--- a/scripts/rpm/post-install.sh
+++ b/scripts/rpm/post-install.sh
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@ test -d "$STATE_DIR" || {
 STATE_FILE="$STATE_DIR/statefile"
 test -f "$STATE_FILE" || {
     touch "$STATE_FILE"
+    echo {} > "$STATE_FILE"
     chown root:telegraf "$STATE_FILE"
     chmod 660 "$STATE_FILE"
 }