diff --git a/tcpdf.php b/tcpdf.php
index 429f4a99..7816e42f 100644
--- a/tcpdf.php
+++ b/tcpdf.php
@@ -8164,7 +8164,7 @@ protected function _putpages() {
 	 * @since 5.0.010 (2010-05-17)
 	 */
 	protected function _getannotsrefs($n) {
-		if (!(isset($this->PageAnnots[$n]) OR ($this->sign AND isset($this->signature_data['cert_type'])))) {
+		if (!(isset($this->PageAnnots[$n]) OR count($this->empty_signature_appearance)>0 OR ($this->sign AND isset($this->signature_data['cert_type'])))) {
 			return '';
 		}
 		$out = ' /Annots [';