diff --git a/lib/compilers.js b/lib/compilers.js
index 59f1290..e739c9b 100644
--- a/lib/compilers.js
+++ b/lib/compilers.js
@@ -256,6 +256,7 @@ function all(parent) {
  */
 function root(node) {
     var self = this;
+    var result;
 
     self.definitions = [];
     self.footnotes = [];
@@ -263,7 +264,9 @@ function root(node) {
     visit(node, 'definition', addDefinition, self);
     visit(node, 'footnoteDefinition', addFootnoteDefinition, self);
 
-    return self.all(node).join('\n') + '\n' + self.generateFootnotes();
+    result = self.all(node).join('\n');
+
+    return (result ? result + '\n' : '') + self.generateFootnotes();
 }
 
 /**