diff --git a/create.sh b/create.sh
index 94bd745..62a380b 100755
--- a/create.sh
+++ b/create.sh
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@ mkdir "$TOP/tmp"
 # file available.
 #
 mkdir -p "$TOP/input/cpio"
-if [[ ! -f "$TOP/input/cpio/authorized_keys" ]]; then
-	if [[ ! -f $HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys ]]; then
+if [[ ! -s "$TOP/input/cpio/authorized_keys" ]]; then
+	if [[ ! -s $HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys ]]; then
 		echo "you have no $HOME/.ssh/authorized_keys file"
 		echo
 		echo "populate $TOP/input/cpio/authorized_keys and run again"