diff --git a/lib/inventory/build-inventory/default.nix b/lib/inventory/build-inventory/default.nix
index b70cea859..855118a3b 100644
--- a/lib/inventory/build-inventory/default.nix
+++ b/lib/inventory/build-inventory/default.nix
@@ -141,9 +141,9 @@ let
                 throw "Module doesn't have role: '${role}'. Path: ${path} not found."
             ) inverseRoles.${machineName} or [ ];
 
-            roleServiceConfigs = builtins.map (
-              role: serviceConfig.roles.${role}.config or { }
-            ) inverseRoles.${machineName} or [ ];
+            roleServiceConfigs = builtins.filter (m: m != { }) (
+              builtins.map (role: serviceConfig.roles.${role}.config or { }) inverseRoles.${machineName} or [ ]
+            );
 
             customImports = map (s: "${directory}/${s}") (
               globalImports ++ machineImports ++ roleServiceImports
@@ -155,14 +155,19 @@ let
             ++ [
               {
                 imports = [ clan-core.clanModules.${serviceName} ] ++ roleModules ++ customImports;
-                config.clan.${serviceName} = lib.mkMerge (
-                  [
-                    globalConfig
-                    machineServiceConfig
-                  ]
-                  ++ roleServiceConfigs
-                );
               }
+              (lib.optionalAttrs (globalConfig != { } || machineServiceConfig != { } || roleServiceConfigs != [ ])
+                {
+                  config.clan.${serviceName} = lib.mkMerge (
+                    [
+                      globalConfig
+                      machineServiceConfig
+                    ]
+                    ++ roleServiceConfigs
+                  );
+                }
+              )
+
               {
                 config.clan.inventory.services.${serviceName}.${instanceName} = {
                   roles = resolvedRoles;
diff --git a/lib/inventory/build-inventory/interface.nix b/lib/inventory/build-inventory/interface.nix
index d4b26338d..dd20a676a 100644
--- a/lib/inventory/build-inventory/interface.nix
+++ b/lib/inventory/build-inventory/interface.nix
@@ -13,6 +13,20 @@ let
       type = types.nullOr types.str;
     };
   };
+  metaOptionsWith = name: {
+    name = lib.mkOption {
+      type = types.str;
+      default = name;
+    };
+    description = lib.mkOption {
+      default = null;
+      type = types.nullOr types.str;
+    };
+    icon = lib.mkOption {
+      default = null;
+      type = types.nullOr types.str;
+    };
+  };
 
   moduleConfig = lib.mkOption {
     default = { };
@@ -64,26 +78,30 @@ in
     machines = lib.mkOption {
       default = { };
       type = types.attrsOf (
-        types.submodule {
-          options = {
-            inherit (metaOptions) name description icon;
-            tags = lib.mkOption {
+        types.submodule (
+          { name, ... }:
+          {
+            options = {
+              inherit (metaOptionsWith name) name description icon;
 
-              default = [ ];
-              apply = lib.unique;
-              type = types.listOf types.str;
+              tags = lib.mkOption {
+
+                default = [ ];
+                apply = lib.unique;
+                type = types.listOf types.str;
+              };
+              system = lib.mkOption {
+                default = null;
+                type = types.nullOr types.str;
+              };
+              deploy.targetHost = lib.mkOption {
+                description = "Configuration for the deployment of the machine";
+                default = null;
+                type = types.nullOr types.str;
+              };
             };
-            system = lib.mkOption {
-              default = null;
-              type = types.nullOr types.str;
-            };
-            deploy.targetHost = lib.mkOption {
-              description = "Configuration for the deployment of the machine";
-              default = null;
-              type = types.nullOr types.str;
-            };
-          };
-        }
+          }
+        )
       );
     };
 
@@ -91,38 +109,41 @@ in
       default = { };
       type = types.attrsOf (
         types.attrsOf (
-          types.submodule {
-            options.meta = metaOptions;
-            options.imports = importsOption;
-            options.config = moduleConfig;
-            options.machines = lib.mkOption {
-              default = { };
-              type = types.attrsOf (
-                types.submodule {
-                  options.imports = importsOption;
-                  options.config = moduleConfig;
-                }
-              );
-            };
-            options.roles = lib.mkOption {
-              default = { };
-              type = types.attrsOf (
-                types.submodule {
-                  options.machines = lib.mkOption {
-                    default = [ ];
-                    type = types.listOf types.str;
-                  };
-                  options.tags = lib.mkOption {
-                    default = [ ];
-                    apply = lib.unique;
-                    type = types.listOf types.str;
-                  };
-                  options.config = moduleConfig;
-                  options.imports = importsOption;
-                }
-              );
-            };
-          }
+          types.submodule (
+            { name, ... }:
+            {
+              options.meta = metaOptionsWith name;
+              options.imports = importsOption;
+              options.config = moduleConfig;
+              options.machines = lib.mkOption {
+                default = { };
+                type = types.attrsOf (
+                  types.submodule {
+                    options.imports = importsOption;
+                    options.config = moduleConfig;
+                  }
+                );
+              };
+              options.roles = lib.mkOption {
+                default = { };
+                type = types.attrsOf (
+                  types.submodule {
+                    options.machines = lib.mkOption {
+                      default = [ ];
+                      type = types.listOf types.str;
+                    };
+                    options.tags = lib.mkOption {
+                      default = [ ];
+                      apply = lib.unique;
+                      type = types.listOf types.str;
+                    };
+                    options.config = moduleConfig;
+                    options.imports = importsOption;
+                  }
+                );
+              };
+            }
+          )
         )
       );
     };
diff --git a/lib/inventory/tests/default.nix b/lib/inventory/tests/default.nix
index 3ab5a5ee2..dbc60448b 100644
--- a/lib/inventory/tests/default.nix
+++ b/lib/inventory/tests/default.nix
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ in
         not_used_machine = builtins.length configs.not_used_machine;
       };
       expected = {
-        client_1_machine = 4;
-        client_2_machine = 4;
+        client_1_machine = 5;
+        client_2_machine = 5;
         not_used_machine = 2;
       };
     };