diff --git a/pre_commit_hooks/check_preference_manifests.py b/pre_commit_hooks/check_preference_manifests.py
index 08cb2e6..2538912 100755
--- a/pre_commit_hooks/check_preference_manifests.py
+++ b/pre_commit_hooks/check_preference_manifests.py
@@ -324,7 +324,15 @@ def validate_urls(subkey, filename):
     url_keys = ("pfm_app_url", "pfm_documentation_url")
     for url_key in url_keys:
         if url_key in subkey:
-            if not subkey[url_key].startswith("http"):
+            if len(subkey[url_key]) == 0:
+                print(
+                    "{}: {} URL value is empty.".format(
+                        filename,
+                        url_key,
+                    )
+                )
+                passed = False
+            elif not subkey[url_key].startswith("http"):
                 print(
                     "{}: {} value doesn't look like a URL: {}".format(
                         filename,