diff --git a/src/t_stream.c b/src/t_stream.c
index ae57202c1..0f0f97a1d 100644
--- a/src/t_stream.c
+++ b/src/t_stream.c
@@ -797,6 +797,16 @@ int streamDeleteItem(stream *s, streamID *id) {
     return deleted;
 }
 
+/* Get the last valid (non-tombstone) streamID of 's'. */
+void streamLastValidID(stream *s, streamID *maxid)
+{
+    streamIterator si;
+    streamIteratorStart(&si,s,NULL,NULL,1);
+    int64_t numfields;
+    streamIteratorGetID(&si,maxid,&numfields);
+    streamIteratorStop(&si);
+}
+
 /* Emit a reply in the client output buffer by formatting a Stream ID
  * in the standard <ms>-<seq> format, using the simple string protocol
  * of REPL. */
@@ -1506,20 +1516,23 @@ void xreadCommand(client *c) {
             {
                 serve_synchronously = 1;
                 serve_history = 1;
-            } else {
+            } else if (s->length) {
                 /* We also want to serve a consumer in a consumer group
                  * synchronously in case the group top item delivered is smaller
                  * than what the stream has inside. */
-                streamID *last = &groups[i]->last_id;
-                if (s->length && (streamCompareID(&s->last_id, last) > 0)) {
+                streamID maxid, *last = &groups[i]->last_id;
+                streamLastValidID(s, &maxid);
+                if (streamCompareID(&maxid, last) > 0) {
                     serve_synchronously = 1;
                     *gt = *last;
                 }
             }
-        } else {
+        } else if (s->length) {
             /* For consumers without a group, we serve synchronously if we can
              * actually provide at least one item from the stream. */
-            if (s->length && (streamCompareID(&s->last_id, gt) > 0)) {
+            streamID maxid;
+            streamLastValidID(s, &maxid);
+            if (streamCompareID(&maxid, gt) > 0) {
                 serve_synchronously = 1;
             }
         }
@@ -1871,11 +1884,7 @@ void xsetidCommand(client *c) {
      * item, otherwise the fundamental ID monotonicity assumption is violated. */
     if (s->length > 0) {
         streamID maxid;
-        streamIterator si;
-        streamIteratorStart(&si,s,NULL,NULL,1);
-        int64_t numfields;
-        streamIteratorGetID(&si,&maxid,&numfields);
-        streamIteratorStop(&si);
+        streamLastValidID(s,&maxid);
 
         if (streamCompareID(&id,&maxid) < 0) {
             addReplyError(c,"The ID specified in XSETID is smaller than the "
diff --git a/tests/unit/type/stream-cgroups.tcl b/tests/unit/type/stream-cgroups.tcl
index 34d4061c2..a59e168ef 100644
--- a/tests/unit/type/stream-cgroups.tcl
+++ b/tests/unit/type/stream-cgroups.tcl
@@ -147,6 +147,20 @@ start_server {
         assert {[lindex $res 0 1 1] == {2-0 {field1 B}}}
     }
 
+    test {Blocking XREADGROUP will not reply with an empty array} {
+        r del mystream
+        r XGROUP CREATE mystream mygroup $ MKSTREAM
+        r XADD mystream 666 f v
+        set res [r XREADGROUP GROUP mygroup Alice BLOCK 10 STREAMS mystream ">"]
+        assert {[lindex $res 0 1 0] == {666-0 {f v}}}
+        r XADD mystream 667 f2 v2
+        r XDEL mystream 667
+        set rd [redis_deferring_client]
+        $rd XREADGROUP GROUP mygroup Alice BLOCK 10 STREAMS mystream ">"
+        after 20
+        assert {[$rd read] == {}} ;# before the fix, client didn't even block, but was served synchronously with {mystream {}}
+    }
+
     test {XCLAIM can claim PEL items from another consumer} {
         # Add 3 items into the stream, and create a consumer group
         r del mystream
diff --git a/tests/unit/type/stream.tcl b/tests/unit/type/stream.tcl
index 9840e3b74..5de9f0571 100644
--- a/tests/unit/type/stream.tcl
+++ b/tests/unit/type/stream.tcl
@@ -191,6 +191,17 @@ start_server {
         assert {[lindex $res 0 1 0 1] eq {old abcd1234}}
     }
 
+    test {Blocking XREAD will not reply with an empty array} {
+        r del s1
+        r XADD s1 666 f v
+        r XADD s1 667 f2 v2
+        r XDEL s1 667
+        set rd [redis_deferring_client]
+        $rd XREAD BLOCK 10 STREAMS s1 666
+        after 20
+        assert {[$rd read] == {}} ;# before the fix, client didn't even block, but was served synchronously with {s1 {}}
+    }
+
     test "XREAD: XADD + DEL should not awake client" {
         set rd [redis_deferring_client]
         r del s1