diff --git a/hack/verify-api-groups.sh b/hack/verify-api-groups.sh
index 51dd09e2f79..bbfcb0f0200 100755
--- a/hack/verify-api-groups.sh
+++ b/hack/verify-api-groups.sh
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ for group_dirname in "${group_dirnames[@]}"; do
 				found=1
 			fi
 		done
-		if [ "${found}" -ne "1" ] ; then
+		if [[ "${found}" -ne "1" && -f "${group_dirname}/types.go" ]] ; then
 			echo "need to add ${group_dirname}/ to ${client_gen_file}"
 			exit 1
 		fi