diff --git a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/local-destination/index.ts b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/local-destination/index.ts
index 5db7765384..72e6bddbb1 100644
--- a/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/local-destination/index.ts
+++ b/packages/core/data-transfer/src/strapi/providers/local-destination/index.ts
@@ -166,6 +166,8 @@ class LocalStrapiDestinationProvider implements IDestinationProvider {
 
     await fse.rename(assetsDirectory, backupDirectory);
     await fse.mkdir(assetsDirectory);
+    // Create a .gitkeep file to ensure the directory is not empty
+    await fse.outputFile(path.join(assetsDirectory, '.gitkeep'), '');
 
     return new Writable({
       objectMode: true,