diff --git a/src/Server.cpp b/src/Server.cpp
index 566f8f3344..17829da77c 100644
--- a/src/Server.cpp
+++ b/src/Server.cpp
@@ -1002,6 +1002,9 @@ struct Sleep : QThread
 
 bool LyXComm::loadFilesInOtherInstance()
 {
+	if (theFilesToLoad().size() == 0)
+		return true;
+
 	int pipefd;
 	int loaded_files = 0;
 	FileName const pipe(inPipeName());
diff --git a/status.23x b/status.23x
index ebfac89035..acd7e1233b 100644
--- a/status.23x
+++ b/status.23x
@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ What's new
 
 - Fix problems with apostrophe in path on Windows (bug 9368).
 
+- Don't open a new instance just because no files are given (bug 11635).
+
 
 * USER INTERFACE