diff --git a/xarray/core/computation.py b/xarray/core/computation.py
index 027bf29000a..d8d2fca20ac 100644
--- a/xarray/core/computation.py
+++ b/xarray/core/computation.py
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ def apply_dataarray_vfunc(
     data_vars = [getattr(a, "variable", a) for a in args]
     result_var = func(*data_vars)
 
-    if signature.num_outputs > 1:
+    if signature.num_outputs != 1:
         out = tuple(
             DataArray(variable, coords, name=name, fastpath=True)
             for variable, coords in zip(result_var, result_coords)
diff --git a/xarray/tests/test_computation.py b/xarray/tests/test_computation.py
index 4890536a5d7..7f1f1227582 100644
--- a/xarray/tests/test_computation.py
+++ b/xarray/tests/test_computation.py
@@ -1184,6 +1184,17 @@ def test_vectorize_dask_new_output_dims():
         )
 
 
+def test_output_empty_tuple():
+    variable = xr.DataArray(np.arange(10), dims=["x"])
+
+    def empty_tuple(x):
+        return ()
+
+    expected = ()
+    actual = apply_ufunc(empty_tuple, variable, output_core_dims=[])
+    assert actual == expected
+
+
 def test_output_wrong_number():
     variable = xr.Variable("x", np.arange(10))