diff --git a/catalog-spec/catalog-spec.md b/catalog-spec/catalog-spec.md
index c30eb781..038a067e 100644
--- a/catalog-spec/catalog-spec.md
+++ b/catalog-spec/catalog-spec.md
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ The following types are commonly used as `rel` types in the Link Object of a STA
 | child   | URL to a child STAC entity (Catalog or Collection). |
 | item    | URL to a STAC Item. |
 
-**Note:** A link to at least one `item` or `child` (Catalog or Collection) is **REQUIRED**.
+**Note:** Empty catalogs are allowed (i.e. without no `item` or `child` link).
 
 There are additional `rel` types in the [Using Relation Types](../best-practices.md#using-relation-types) best practice, but as 
 they are more typically used in Collections, as Catalogs tend to just be used to structure STAC organization, so tend to just use
diff --git a/catalog-spec/json-schema/catalog.json b/catalog-spec/json-schema/catalog.json
index 052052e1..2353839c 100644
--- a/catalog-spec/json-schema/catalog.json
+++ b/catalog-spec/json-schema/catalog.json
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
           "title": "Links",
           "type": "array",
           "contains": {
-            "description": "A link to at least one `item` or `child` is REQUIRED in Catalogs.",
+            "description": "A link `item` or `child`.",
             "type": "object",
             "properties": {
               "rel": {