diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/cost/unassign_cost_item_quantity.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/cost/unassign_cost_item_quantity.py
index e4b48bafa0..967cec4162 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/cost/unassign_cost_item_quantity.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/api/cost/unassign_cost_item_quantity.py
@@ -98,4 +98,7 @@ class Usecase:
                 count = 0
                 for rel in self.settings["cost_item"].Controls:
                     count += len(rel.RelatedObjects)
-                quantity[3] = count
+                if count:
+                    quantity[3] = count
+                else:
+                    self.file.remove(quantity)