diff --git a/watcher/decision_engine/model/model_root.py b/watcher/decision_engine/model/model_root.py
index 71d9185a7..74fe6a36c 100644
--- a/watcher/decision_engine/model/model_root.py
+++ b/watcher/decision_engine/model/model_root.py
@@ -257,6 +257,10 @@ class ModelRoot(nx.DiGraph, base.Model):
                 new_name = "node_"+str(field)
                 in_dict[new_name] = cn[field]
             node_instances = self.get_node_instances(cn)
+            if not node_instances:
+                deep_in_dict = in_dict.copy()
+                ret_list.append(deep_in_dict)
+                continue
             for instance in sorted(node_instances, key=lambda x: x.uuid):
                 for field in instance.fields:
                     new_name = "server_"+str(field)
diff --git a/watcher/tests/decision_engine/model/test_model.py b/watcher/tests/decision_engine/model/test_model.py
index d7c0bad2c..557994bd8 100644
--- a/watcher/tests/decision_engine/model/test_model.py
+++ b/watcher/tests/decision_engine/model/test_model.py
@@ -85,6 +85,17 @@ class TestModel(base.TestCase):
         result_keys = result[0].keys()
         self.assertEqual(sorted(expected_keys), sorted(result_keys))
 
+        # test compute node has no instance
+        mock_instances.return_value = []
+
+        expected_keys = ['node_uuid']
+
+        result = model_root.ModelRoot().to_list()
+        self.assertEqual(1, len(result))
+
+        result_keys = result[0].keys()
+        self.assertEqual(expected_keys, list(result_keys))
+
     def test_get_node_by_instance_uuid(self):
         model = model_root.ModelRoot()
         uuid_ = "{0}".format(uuidutils.generate_uuid())