diff --git a/provider/pipeline/pipeline.go b/provider/pipeline/pipeline.go
index b6145911a6..fd7fc68d73 100644
--- a/provider/pipeline/pipeline.go
+++ b/provider/pipeline/pipeline.go
@@ -17,25 +17,28 @@ import (
 )
 
 type Pipeline struct {
-	log    *util.Logger
-	re     *regexp.Regexp
-	jq     *gojq.Query
-	dflt   string
-	unpack string
-	decode string
+	log        *util.Logger
+	re         *regexp.Regexp
+	jq         *gojq.Query
+	allowEmpty bool
+	dflt       string
+	unpack     string
+	decode     string
 }
 
 type Settings struct {
-	Regex   string
-	Default string
-	Jq      string
-	Unpack  string
-	Decode  string
+	AllowEmpty bool
+	Regex      string
+	Default    string
+	Jq         string
+	Unpack     string
+	Decode     string
 }
 
 func New(log *util.Logger, cc Settings) (*Pipeline, error) {
 	p := &Pipeline{
-		log: log,
+		log:        log,
+		allowEmpty: cc.AllowEmpty,
 	}
 
 	var err error
@@ -170,6 +173,10 @@ func (p *Pipeline) decodeValue(value []byte) (float64, error) {
 }
 
 func (p *Pipeline) Process(in []byte) ([]byte, error) {
+	if p.allowEmpty && len(bytes.TrimSpace(in)) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+
 	b := p.transformXML(in)
 
 	if p.re != nil {
@@ -184,10 +191,6 @@ func (p *Pipeline) Process(in []byte) ([]byte, error) {
 	}
 
 	if p.jq != nil {
-		// TODO make this optional
-		if len(bytes.TrimSpace(b)) == 0 {
-			return b, nil
-		}
 		v, err := jq.Query(p.jq, b)
 		if err != nil {
 			return b, backoff.Permanent(err)
diff --git a/templates/definition/tariff/nordpool.yaml b/templates/definition/tariff/nordpool.yaml
index 12da668a0a..8145e877e8 100644
--- a/templates/definition/tariff/nordpool.yaml
+++ b/templates/definition/tariff/nordpool.yaml
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ render: |
         config:
           source: http
           uri: https://dataportal-api.nordpoolgroup.com/api/DayAheadPrices?market=DayAhead&date={{ `{{ now.Local | date "2006-01-02" }}` }}&deliveryArea={{ .region }}&currency={{ .currency }}
+          allowempty: true
           jq: |
             .multiAreaEntries | [
               .[] | 
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ render: |
         config:
           source: http
           uri: https://dataportal-api.nordpoolgroup.com/api/DayAheadPrices?market=DayAhead&date={{ `{{ addDate (now.Local) 0 0 1 | date "2006-01-02" }}` }}&deliveryArea={{ .region }}&currency={{ .currency }}
+          allowempty: true
           jq: |
             .multiAreaEntries | [
               .[] |