diff --git a/vunit/sim_if/modelsim.py b/vunit/sim_if/modelsim.py
index d0ee6a13a..646ceca60 100644
--- a/vunit/sim_if/modelsim.py
+++ b/vunit/sim_if/modelsim.py
@@ -881,6 +881,11 @@ def merge_coverage(self, file_name, args=None):
         if args is None:
             args = []
 
+        # Check if at least one valid coverage file exists.
+        if not any(file_exists(f) for f in self._coverage_files):
+            LOGGER.warning("No existing coverage files found. Skipping coverage database creation.")
+            return
+
         coverage_files = str(Path(self._output_path) / "coverage_files.txt")
         vcover_cmd = [str(Path(self._prefix) / "vcover"), "merge", "-inputs"] + [coverage_files] + args + [file_name]
         with Path(coverage_files).open("w", encoding="utf-8") as fptr: