diff --git a/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.js b/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.js
index e73ccf7d3..0c1046a65 100644
--- a/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.js
+++ b/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.js
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@ exports.fn = function(item) {
     (item.isElem('pattern') && item.hasAttrLocal('href')) ||
     // The 'g' may not have content, but the filter may cause a rectangle
     // to be created and filled with pattern.
-    (item.isElem('g') && item.hasAttr('filter'))
+    (item.isElem('g') && item.hasAttr('filter')) ||
+    // empty <mask> hides masked element
+    (item.isElem('mask') && item.hasAttr('id'))
   );
 };
diff --git a/test/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.05.svg b/test/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.05.svg
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..793115316
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/removeEmptyContainers.05.svg
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+<svg width="480" height="360" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+  <mask id="testMask" />
+  <rect x="100" y="100" width="250" height="150" fill="green" />
+  <rect x="100" y="100" width="250" height="150" fill="red" mask="url(#testMask)" />
+</svg>
+
+@@@
+
+<svg width="480" height="360" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg">
+    <mask id="testMask"/>
+    <rect x="100" y="100" width="250" height="150" fill="green"/>
+    <rect x="100" y="100" width="250" height="150" fill="red" mask="url(#testMask)"/>
+</svg>