diff --git a/substrate/frame/contracts/src/storage.rs b/substrate/frame/contracts/src/storage.rs
index 3304166607d2..52c5150ca217 100644
--- a/substrate/frame/contracts/src/storage.rs
+++ b/substrate/frame/contracts/src/storage.rs
@@ -322,7 +322,8 @@ impl<T: Config> ContractInfo<T> {
 				KillStorageResult::SomeRemaining(_) => return weight_limit,
 				KillStorageResult::AllRemoved(keys_removed) => {
 					entry.remove();
-					remaining_key_budget = remaining_key_budget.saturating_sub(keys_removed);
+					// charge at least one key even if none were removed.
+					remaining_key_budget = remaining_key_budget.saturating_sub(keys_removed.max(1));
 				},
 			};
 		}