diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/layout/mod.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/layout/mod.rs
index ce728ccb7..3334d5aa3 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/layout/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/layout/mod.rs
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ impl<'a, 'v, 't> Builder<'a, 'v, 't> {
     fn interrupt_page(&mut self, styles: Option<StyleChain<'a>>) -> SourceResult<()> {
         self.interrupt_par()?;
         let Some(doc) = &mut self.doc else { return Ok(()) };
-        if !self.flow.0.is_empty() || (doc.keep_next && styles.is_some()) {
+        if !self.flow.0.is_basically_empty() || (doc.keep_next && styles.is_some()) {
             let (flow, shared) = mem::take(&mut self.flow).0.finish();
             let styles = if shared == StyleChain::default() {
                 styles.unwrap_or_default()
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/layout/spacing.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/layout/spacing.rs
index 950f024f8..69a5d952a 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/layout/spacing.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/layout/spacing.rs
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ impl Behave for HElem {
         } else if self.weak(StyleChain::default()) {
             Behaviour::Weak(1)
         } else {
-            Behaviour::Ignorant
+            Behaviour::Invisible
         }
     }
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ impl Behave for VElem {
         } else if self.weakness(StyleChain::default()) > 0 {
             Behaviour::Weak(self.weakness(StyleChain::default()))
         } else {
-            Behaviour::Ignorant
+            Behaviour::Invisible
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/meta/metadata.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/meta/metadata.rs
index ed0d19864..89d1409a9 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/meta/metadata.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/meta/metadata.rs
@@ -38,6 +38,6 @@ impl Show for MetadataElem {
 
 impl Behave for MetadataElem {
     fn behaviour(&self) -> Behaviour {
-        Behaviour::Ignorant
+        Behaviour::Invisible
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/shared/behave.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/shared/behave.rs
index 6a1aa1274..471daa189 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/shared/behave.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/shared/behave.rs
@@ -34,10 +34,9 @@ impl<'a> BehavedBuilder<'a> {
     /// probably collapse.
     pub fn is_basically_empty(&self) -> bool {
         self.builder.is_empty()
-            && self
-                .staged
-                .iter()
-                .all(|(_, behaviour, _)| matches!(behaviour, Behaviour::Weak(_)))
+            && self.staged.iter().all(|(_, behaviour, _)| {
+                matches!(behaviour, Behaviour::Weak(_) | Behaviour::Invisible)
+            })
     }
 
     /// Push an item into the sequence.
@@ -74,7 +73,7 @@ impl<'a> BehavedBuilder<'a> {
                 self.builder.push(elem, styles);
                 self.last = interaction;
             }
-            Behaviour::Ignorant => {
+            Behaviour::Ignorant | Behaviour::Invisible => {
                 self.staged.push((elem, interaction, styles));
             }
         }
@@ -95,7 +94,10 @@ impl<'a> BehavedBuilder<'a> {
     /// false.
     fn flush(&mut self, supportive: bool) {
         for (item, interaction, styles) in self.staged.drain(..) {
-            if supportive || interaction == Behaviour::Ignorant {
+            if supportive
+                || interaction == Behaviour::Ignorant
+                || interaction == Behaviour::Invisible
+            {
                 self.builder.push(item, styles);
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/model/content.rs b/crates/typst/src/model/content.rs
index f1600f251..6541ab6b4 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/model/content.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/model/content.rs
@@ -610,7 +610,7 @@ pub struct MetaElem {
 
 impl Behave for MetaElem {
     fn behaviour(&self) -> Behaviour {
-        Behaviour::Ignorant
+        Behaviour::Invisible
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/model/realize.rs b/crates/typst/src/model/realize.rs
index 01c46b818..3e683d3e6 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/model/realize.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/model/realize.rs
@@ -214,8 +214,10 @@ pub enum Behaviour {
     /// An element that destroys adjacent weak elements.
     Destructive,
     /// An element that does not interact at all with other elements, having the
-    /// same effect as if it didn't exist.
+    /// same effect as if it didn't exist, but has a visual representation.
     Ignorant,
+    /// An element that does not have a visual representation.
+    Invisible,
 }
 
 /// Guards content against being affected by the same show rule multiple times.
diff --git a/tests/ref/layout/pagebreak-empty.png b/tests/ref/layout/pagebreak-empty.png
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..412c4e8d6
Binary files /dev/null and b/tests/ref/layout/pagebreak-empty.png differ
diff --git a/tests/typ/layout/pagebreak-empty.typ b/tests/typ/layout/pagebreak-empty.typ
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c228959e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/typ/layout/pagebreak-empty.typ
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+// Test page breaks on basically empty pages.
+
+---
+// After place
+// Should result in three pages.
+First
+#pagebreak(weak: true)
+#place(right)[placed A]
+#pagebreak(weak: true)
+Third
+
+---
+// After only ignorables & invisibles
+// Should result in two pages.
+First
+#pagebreak(weak: true)
+#counter(page).update(1)
+#metadata("Some")
+#pagebreak(weak: true)
+Second
+
+---
+// After only ignorables, but regular break
+// Should result in three pages.
+First
+#pagebreak()
+#counter(page).update(1)
+#metadata("Some")
+#pagebreak()
+Third