diff --git a/doc/unit_test.rst b/doc/unit_test.rst
index de2c4d5f..10124de4 100644
--- a/doc/unit_test.rst
+++ b/doc/unit_test.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ Unit Tests
 Unit Tests for mlx.traceability
 -------------------------------
 
+.. test item-link defined before item-relink and item definitions: item-link shall always be processed first
+
 .. item-relink::
     :remap: RQT-ATTRIBUTES_FAKE
     :target: RQT-ATTRIBUTES
@@ -57,4 +59,15 @@ Unit Tests for mlx.traceability
     :validates: RQT-MATRIX
 
 .. item:: UTEST_ITEM_DIRECTIVE-MAKE_INTERNAL_ITEM_REF_SHOW_CAPTION
-    :validates: RQT-CAPTION
+
+.. test item-relink defined after item-link and item definitions: item-link shall always be processed first
+
+.. item-link::
+    :sources: nonexistent_item
+    :targets: RQT-CAPTION
+    :type: validates
+
+.. item-relink::
+    :remap: nonexistent_item
+    :target: UTEST_ITEM_DIRECTIVE-MAKE_INTERNAL_ITEM_REF_SHOW_CAPTION
+    :type: validated_by
diff --git a/mlx/traceable_item.py b/mlx/traceable_item.py
index 04033724..88950b71 100644
--- a/mlx/traceable_item.py
+++ b/mlx/traceable_item.py
@@ -60,7 +60,8 @@ def all_relations(self):
                 targets.update(self.explicit_relations[relation])
             if relation in self.implicit_relations:
                 targets.update(self.implicit_relations[relation])
-            yield relation, natsorted(targets)
+            if targets:
+                yield relation, natsorted(targets)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _add_relations(relations_of_self, relations_of_other):
diff --git a/tools/doc-warnings.json b/tools/doc-warnings.json
index dcb3ad6a..72122e76 100644
--- a/tools/doc-warnings.json
+++ b/tools/doc-warnings.json
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {
     "sphinx": {
         "enabled": true,
-        "min": 23,
-        "max": 23,
+        "min": 24,
+        "max": 24,
         "exclude": [
             "WARNING: the mlx.traceability extension is not safe for parallel reading",
             "WARNING: doing serial read"