diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.test.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.test.ts
index e83a89ec6..6b7dfdf83 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.test.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.test.ts
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ describe('Cose-Bilkent Layout Algorithm', () => {
 
     it('should throw error for invalid nodes array', () => {
       const invalidData = { ...mockLayoutData, nodes: null as any };
-      expect(() => validateLayoutData(invalidData)).toThrow('Nodes array is required');
+      expect(() => validateLayoutData(invalidData)).toThrow('No nodes found in layout data');
     });
 
     it('should throw error for invalid edges array', () => {
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.ts
index 8d739c3a8..433723259 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/rendering-util/layout-algorithms/cose-bilkent/layout.ts
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ export function validateLayoutData(data: LayoutData): boolean {
     throw new Error('Root node is required');
   }
 
-  if (!data.nodes || !Array.isArray(data.nodes) || data.nodes.length === 0) {
+  if (!data.nodes || !Array.isArray(data.nodes)) {
     throw new Error('No nodes found in layout data');
   }