diff --git a/syft/distro/identify.go b/syft/distro/identify.go
index d322582e6..95d8d7ec1 100644
--- a/syft/distro/identify.go
+++ b/syft/distro/identify.go
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ func assemble(name, version, like string) *Distro {
 	distroType, ok := IDMapping[name]
 
 	// Both distro and version must be present
-	if len(name) == 0 {
+	if len(name) == 0 && len(version) == 0 {
 		return nil
 	}