diff --git a/pylib/anki/decks.py b/pylib/anki/decks.py
index 47696ad8a..c683eb8d5 100644
--- a/pylib/anki/decks.py
+++ b/pylib/anki/decks.py
@@ -92,6 +92,16 @@ defaultConf = {
     "usn": 0,
 }
 
+# How to select list of decks
+
+# difference between WITHOUT_EMPTY_DEFAULT and
+# WITHOUT_EMPTY_LEAF_DEFAULT is that the first contains default when
+# it has a child. This is required for deck tree.
+
+WITHOUT_EMPTY_DEFAULT = 0
+ALL_DECKS = 1
+WITHOUT_EMPTY_LEAF_DEFAULT = 2
+
 
 class DeckManager:
     decks: Dict[str, Any]
@@ -219,7 +229,7 @@ class DeckManager:
             self.select(int(list(self.decks.keys())[0]))
         self.save()
 
-    def allNames(self, dyn: bool = True, forceDefault: bool = True) -> List:
+    def allNames(self, dyn: bool = True, forceDefault: int = ALL_DECKS) -> List:
         "An unsorted list of all deck names."
         if dyn:
             return [x["name"] for x in self.all(forceDefault=forceDefault)]
@@ -228,14 +238,10 @@ class DeckManager:
                 x["name"] for x in self.all(forceDefault=forceDefault) if not x["dyn"]
             ]
 
-    def all(self, forceDefault: bool = True) -> List:
+    def all(self, forceDefault: int = ALL_DECKS) -> List:
         "A list of all decks."
         decks = list(self.decks.values())
-        if (
-            not forceDefault
-            and not self.col.db.scalar("select 1 from cards where did = 1 limit 1")
-            and len(decks) > 1
-        ):
+        if not forceDefault and not self.shouldDefaultBeDisplayed(forceDefault):
             decks = [deck for deck in decks if deck["id"] != 1]
         return decks
 
@@ -513,6 +519,35 @@ class DeckManager:
         self._recoverOrphans()
         self._checkDeckTree()
 
+    def shouldDeckBeDisplayed(self, deck, forceDefault: int = ALL_DECKS) -> bool:
+        """Whether the deck should appear in main window, browser side list, filter, deck selection...
+
+        True, except for empty default deck without children"""
+        if deck["id"] != "1":
+            return True
+        return self.shouldDefaultBeDisplayed(forceDefault)
+
+    def shouldDefaultBeDisplayed(
+        self, forceDefault: int = ALL_DECKS, defaultDeck=None
+    ) -> bool:
+        """Whether the default deck should appear in main window, browser side list, filter, deck selection...
+
+        True, except for empty default deck (without children)"""
+        if forceDefault == ALL_DECKS:
+            return True
+        if self.col.db.scalar("select 1 from cards where did = 1 limit 1"):
+            return True
+        if len(self.decks) == 1:
+            return True
+        if forceDefault == WITHOUT_EMPTY_LEAF_DEFAULT:
+            if defaultDeck is None:
+                defaultDeck = self.get(1)
+            defaultName = defaultDeck["name"]
+            for name in self.allNames():
+                if name.startswith(f"{defaultName}::"):
+                    return True
+        return False
+
     # Deck selection
     #############################################################
 
diff --git a/qt/aqt/browser.py b/qt/aqt/browser.py
index 301683d95..239758e26 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/browser.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/browser.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from anki import hooks
 from anki.cards import Card
 from anki.collection import _Collection
 from anki.consts import *
+from anki.decks import WITHOUT_EMPTY_DEFAULT
 from anki.lang import _, ngettext
 from anki.models import NoteType
 from anki.notes import Note
@@ -1156,16 +1157,25 @@ by clicking on one on the left."""
 
         def fillGroups(root, grps, head=""):
             for g in grps:
+                baseName = g[0]
+                did = g[1]
+                children = g[5]
+                if str(did) == "1" and not children:
+                    if not self.mw.col.decks.shouldDefaultBeDisplayed(
+                        WITHOUT_EMPTY_DEFAULT
+                    ):
+                        # No need to test for children, we know there are not
+                        continue
                 item = SidebarItem(
-                    g[0],
+                    baseName,
                     ":/icons/deck.svg",
-                    lambda g=g: self.setFilter("deck", head + g[0]),
-                    lambda expanded, g=g: self.mw.col.decks.collapseBrowser(g[1]),
+                    lambda baseName=baseName: self.setFilter("deck", head + baseName),
+                    lambda expanded, did=did: self.mw.col.decks.collapseBrowser(did),
                     not self.mw.col.decks.get(g[1]).get("browserCollapsed", False),
                 )
                 root.addChild(item)
-                newhead = head + g[0] + "::"
-                fillGroups(item, g[5], newhead)
+                newhead = head + baseName + "::"
+                fillGroups(item, children, newhead)
 
         fillGroups(root, grps)
 
@@ -1312,7 +1322,12 @@ by clicking on one on the left."""
                     subm.addSeparator()
                     addDecks(subm, children)
                 else:
-                    parent.addItem(shortname, self._filterFunc("deck", name))
+                    if did != 1 or self.col.decks.shouldDefaultBeDisplayed(
+                        WITHOUT_EMPTY_DEFAULT
+                        # no need to check for children, we know
+                        # there are none in this else branch
+                    ):
+                        parent.addItem(shortname, self._filterFunc("deck", name))
 
         # fixme: could rewrite to avoid calculating due # in the future
         alldecks = self.col.sched.deckDueTree()
diff --git a/qt/aqt/studydeck.py b/qt/aqt/studydeck.py
index 8a331f5e6..b0d56bcd9 100644
--- a/qt/aqt/studydeck.py
+++ b/qt/aqt/studydeck.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 # License: GNU AGPL, version 3 or later; http://www.gnu.org/licenses/agpl.html
 
 import aqt
+from anki.decks import WITHOUT_EMPTY_LEAF_DEFAULT
 from anki.lang import _
 from aqt import gui_hooks
 from aqt.qt import *
@@ -51,7 +52,11 @@ class StudyDeck(QDialog):
         if title:
             self.setWindowTitle(title)
         if not names:
-            names = sorted(self.mw.col.decks.allNames(dyn=dyn, forceDefault=False))
+            names = sorted(
+                self.mw.col.decks.allNames(
+                    dyn=dyn, forceDefault=WITHOUT_EMPTY_LEAF_DEFAULT
+                )
+            )
             self.nameFunc = None
             self.origNames = names
         else: