diff --git a/cura/Machines/MachineNode.py b/cura/Machines/MachineNode.py
index 20d7a28894..4ad827cbed 100644
--- a/cura/Machines/MachineNode.py
+++ b/cura/Machines/MachineNode.py
@@ -92,17 +92,19 @@ class MachineNode(ContainerNode):
 
     ##  (Re)loads all variants under this printer.
     def _loadAll(self):
-        if not self.has_variants:
-            return
-
-        # Find all the variants for this definition ID.
         container_registry = ContainerRegistry.getInstance()
-        variants = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "variant", definition = self.container_id, hardware_type = "nozzle")
-        for variant in variants:
-            variant_name = variant["name"]
-            if variant_name not in self.variants:
-                self.variants[variant_name] = VariantNode(variant["id"], machine = self)
-                self.variants[variant_name].materialsChanged.connect(self.materialsChanged)
+        if not self.has_variants:
+            self.variants["empty"] = VariantNode("empty_variant", machine = self)
+        else:
+            # Find all the variants for this definition ID.
+            variants = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "variant", definition = self.container_id, hardware_type = "nozzle")
+            for variant in variants:
+                variant_name = variant["name"]
+                if variant_name not in self.variants:
+                    self.variants[variant_name] = VariantNode(variant["id"], machine = self)
+                    self.variants[variant_name].materialsChanged.connect(self.materialsChanged)
+            if not self.variants:
+                self.variants["empty"] = VariantNode("empty_variant", machine = self)
 
         # Find the global qualities for this printer.
         global_qualities = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "quality", definition = self.container_id, global_quality = True)  # First try specific to this printer.
diff --git a/cura/Machines/MaterialNode.py b/cura/Machines/MaterialNode.py
index 6a0621b366..0b43b311bf 100644
--- a/cura/Machines/MaterialNode.py
+++ b/cura/Machines/MaterialNode.py
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ class MaterialNode(ContainerNode):
             quality_id = quality["id"]
             if quality_id not in self.qualities:
                 self.qualities[quality_id] = QualityNode(quality_id, parent = self)
+        if not self.qualities:
+            self.qualities["empty_quality"] = QualityNode("empty_quality", parent = self)
 
     ##  Triggered when any container is removed, but only handles it when the
     #   container is removed that this node represents.
@@ -62,6 +64,8 @@ class MaterialNode(ContainerNode):
             # Remove myself from my parent.
             if self.base_file in self.variant.materials:
                 del self.variant.materials[self.base_file]
+                if not self.variant.materials:
+                    self.variant.materials["empty_material"] = MaterialNode("empty_material", variant = self.variant)
             self.materialChanged.emit(self)
 
     ##  Triggered when any metadata changed in any container, but only handles
diff --git a/cura/Machines/QualityNode.py b/cura/Machines/QualityNode.py
index 09785056f1..01b73a2091 100644
--- a/cura/Machines/QualityNode.py
+++ b/cura/Machines/QualityNode.py
@@ -29,4 +29,6 @@ class QualityNode(ContainerNode):
         if not isinstance(self.parent, MachineNode):  # Not a global profile.
             for intent in container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "intent", definition = self.parent.variant.machine.quality_definition, variant = self.parent.variant.variant_name, material = self.parent.base_file):
                 self.intents[intent["id"]] = IntentNode(intent["id"], quality = self)
+        if not self.intents:
+            self.intents["empty_intent"] = IntentNode("empty_intent", quality = self)
         # Otherwise, there are no intents for global profiles.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cura/Machines/VariantNode.py b/cura/Machines/VariantNode.py
index c02bfab1a5..c1b294963e 100644
--- a/cura/Machines/VariantNode.py
+++ b/cura/Machines/VariantNode.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@ from typing import Optional, TYPE_CHECKING
 from UM.Settings.ContainerRegistry import ContainerRegistry
 from UM.Settings.Interfaces import ContainerInterface
 from UM.Signal import Signal
-from UM.Util import parseBool
 from cura.Machines.ContainerNode import ContainerNode
 from cura.Machines.MaterialNode import MaterialNode
 
@@ -40,6 +39,7 @@ class VariantNode(ContainerNode):
         container_registry = ContainerRegistry.getInstance()
 
         if not self.machine.has_materials:
+            self.materials["empty_material"] = MaterialNode("empty_material", variant = self)
             return  # There should not be any materials loaded for this printer.
 
         # Find all the materials for this variant's name.
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class VariantNode(ContainerNode):
         else:  # Printer has its own material profiles. Look for material profiles with this printer's definition.
             all_materials = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "material", definition = "fdmprinter")
             printer_specific_materials = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "material", definition = self.machine.container_id)
-            variant_specific_materials = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "material", definition = self.machine.container_id, variant = self.variant_name)
+            variant_specific_materials = container_registry.findInstanceContainersMetadata(type = "material", definition = self.machine.container_id, variant = self.variant_name)  # If empty_variant, this won't return anything.
             materials_per_base_file = {material["base_file"]: material for material in all_materials}
             materials_per_base_file.update({material["base_file"]: material for material in printer_specific_materials})  # Printer-specific profiles override global ones.
             materials_per_base_file.update({material["base_file"]: material for material in variant_specific_materials})  # Variant-specific profiles override all of those.
@@ -64,6 +64,8 @@ class VariantNode(ContainerNode):
             if base_file not in self.materials:
                 self.materials[base_file] = MaterialNode(material["id"], variant = self)
                 self.materials[base_file].materialChanged.connect(self.materialsChanged)
+        if not self.materials:
+            self.materials["empty_material"] = MaterialNode("empty_material", variant = self)
 
     ##  Finds the preferred material for this printer with this nozzle in one of
     #   the extruders.
@@ -112,5 +114,7 @@ class VariantNode(ContainerNode):
             if original_variant != "empty" or container.getMetaDataEntry("variant", "empty") == "empty":
                 return  # Original was already specific or just as unspecific as the new one.
 
+        if "empty_material" in self.materials:
+            del self.materials["empty_material"]
         self.materials[base_file] = MaterialNode(container.getId(), variant = self)
         self.materials[base_file].materialChanged.connect(self.materialsChanged)
\ No newline at end of file