diff --git a/src/qmdoc/qmdoc.c b/src/qmdoc/qmdoc.c
index 40ebc0a..9ff6b2a 100644
--- a/src/qmdoc/qmdoc.c
+++ b/src/qmdoc/qmdoc.c
@@ -2392,7 +2392,9 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
         if (dirfd != AT_FDCWD) fd_close(dirfd);
     }
 
-    int i = 1;
+    /* usually start at 1, but if there's only one entry it means there's only
+     * the index, which means start with it. */
+    int i = NB_ENTRIES(&ctx) > 1;
     ctx.cur_grp_idx = 0;
     for (;;) {
         int cur_entry = genalloc_s(int, &ctx.ga_idx)[i];
@@ -2426,7 +2428,11 @@ main (int argc, const char *argv[])
         }
 
         if (++i == genalloc_len(int, &ctx.ga_idx)) {
-            if (!(ctx.doc.flags & DOC_FULL_TOC))
+            /* having DOC_FULL_TOC means this is the index, *but* this might be
+             * from the first time/loop around, in the odd case of there is only
+             * the index.
+             * This is why we also break if i==1 */
+            if (!(ctx.doc.flags & DOC_FULL_TOC) || i == 1)
                 break;
             i = 0;
             ctx.cur_grp_idx = 0;