diff --git a/skimage/io/__init__.py b/skimage/io/__init__.py
index 144fef57..8f3b9bca 100644
--- a/skimage/io/__init__.py
+++ b/skimage/io/__init__.py
@@ -40,7 +40,8 @@ def _update_doc(doc):
     info_table = [(p, plugin_info(p).get('description', 'no description'))
                   for p in available_plugins if not p == 'test']
 
-    name_length = max([len(n) for (n, _) in info_table])
+    name_length = max([len(n) for (n, _) in info_table]) if len(info_table) > 0 else 0
+
     description_length = WRAP_LEN - 1 - name_length
     column_lengths = [name_length, description_length]
     _format_plugin_info_table(info_table, column_lengths)