diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/Optimizer.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/Optimizer.scala
index 7455e68ee8..586bf3d4dd 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/Optimizer.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/Optimizer.scala
@@ -381,12 +381,12 @@ object ColumnPruning extends Rule[LogicalPlan] {
         p
       }
 
-    // Can't prune the columns on LeafNode
-    case p @ Project(_, l: LeafNode) => p
-
     // Eliminate no-op Projects
     case p @ Project(projectList, child) if sameOutput(child.output, p.output) => child
 
+    // Can't prune the columns on LeafNode
+    case p @ Project(_, l: LeafNode) => p
+
     // for all other logical plans that inherits the output from it's children
     case p @ Project(_, child) =>
       val required = child.references ++ p.references
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/ColumnPruningSuite.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/ColumnPruningSuite.scala
index d09601e034..409e92238e 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/ColumnPruningSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/optimizer/ColumnPruningSuite.scala
@@ -157,6 +157,22 @@ class ColumnPruningSuite extends PlanTest {
     comparePlans(Optimize.execute(query), expected)
   }
 
+  test("Eliminate the Project with an empty projectList") {
+    val input = OneRowRelation
+    val expected = Project(Literal(1).as("1") :: Nil, input).analyze
+
+    val query1 =
+      Project(Literal(1).as("1") :: Nil, Project(Literal(1).as("1") :: Nil, input)).analyze
+    comparePlans(Optimize.execute(query1), expected)
+
+    val query2 =
+      Project(Literal(1).as("1") :: Nil, Project(Nil, input)).analyze
+    comparePlans(Optimize.execute(query2), expected)
+
+    // to make sure the top Project will not be removed.
+    comparePlans(Optimize.execute(expected), expected)
+  }
+
   test("column pruning for group") {
     val testRelation = LocalRelation('a.int, 'b.int, 'c.int)
     val originalQuery =