diff --git a/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness.go b/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness.go
index 8aa47da0..f8abcfe2 100644
--- a/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness.go
+++ b/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness.go
@@ -153,6 +153,15 @@ func migrationPresetIdentities(presets []models.ServicePreset) []migrationPreset
 			slot = presets[i].ID
 		}
 
+		// Clearing a slot through the Marge API leaves a zero-value entry in
+		// the list (RemovePreset assigns models.ServicePreset{}), persisted as
+		// <preset id="">. The rendered /full drops it, so counting it here
+		// would report a mismatch for a datastore that is perfectly in sync.
+		// An empty slot carries no identity to compare either way.
+		if slot == "" {
+			continue
+		}
+
 		result = append(result, migrationPresetIdentity{
 			Slot:     slot,
 			Name:     presets[i].Name,
diff --git a/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness_test.go b/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness_test.go
index d04ae297..767fa47f 100644
--- a/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness_test.go
+++ b/pkg/service/setup/migration_readiness_test.go
@@ -284,3 +284,22 @@ func TestMigrationDataReadinessAllowsUnpairedSpeaker(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("unpaired speaker was refused migration: %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+// TestMigrationDataReadinessIgnoresClearedPresetSlots: clearing a slot through
+// the Marge API leaves a zero-value entry that /full drops. Counting it would
+// refuse migration for a datastore that is otherwise perfectly in sync.
+func TestMigrationDataReadinessIgnoresClearedPresetSlots(t *testing.T) {
+	kept := readinessPreset("1", "Kept Station", "http://radio.example/kept")
+
+	m, ds, deviceIP := newMigrationReadinessFixture(t, livePresetsXML(kept))
+	if err := ds.SavePresets(readinessAccount, readinessDevice, []models.ServicePreset{
+		kept,
+		{}, // slot 2, cleared through RemovePreset
+	}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("SavePresets: %v", err)
+	}
+
+	if _, err := m.checkMigrationDataReady(deviceIP); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("a cleared preset slot blocked migration: %v", err)
+	}
+}