diff --git a/internal/ocipush/push.go b/internal/ocipush/push.go
index c1bf58d64..7cc78997d 100644
--- a/internal/ocipush/push.go
+++ b/internal/ocipush/push.go
@@ -105,7 +105,9 @@ func PushManifest(
 ) error {
 	// Check if we need an extra empty layer for the manifest config
 	if ociVersion == api.OCIVersion1_1 || ociVersion == "" {
-		layers = append(layers, Pushable{Descriptor: v1.DescriptorEmptyJSON, Data: []byte("{}")})
+		if err := resolver.Push(ctx, named, v1.DescriptorEmptyJSON, v1.DescriptorEmptyJSON.Data); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	// prepare to push the manifest by pushing the layers
 	layerDescriptors := make([]v1.Descriptor, len(layers))