diff --git a/src/core/utils.js b/src/core/utils.js
index fce58316f91..814737cb5b6 100644
--- a/src/core/utils.js
+++ b/src/core/utils.js
@@ -429,11 +429,12 @@ function validateValueBySchema(value, schema, requiredByParam, bypassRequiredChe
   let minItems = schema.get("minItems")
   let pattern = schema.get("pattern")
 
-  const needsExplicitConstraintValidation = type === "array"
   const schemaRequiresValue = requiredByParam || requiredBySchema
   const hasValue = value !== undefined && value !== null
   const isValidEmpty = !schemaRequiresValue && !hasValue
 
+  const needsExplicitConstraintValidation = hasValue && type === "array"
+
   const requiresFurtherValidation =
     schemaRequiresValue
     || needsExplicitConstraintValidation
diff --git a/test/unit/core/utils.js b/test/unit/core/utils.js
index e567f93a33c..a22891e3dcf 100644
--- a/test/unit/core/utils.js
+++ b/test/unit/core/utils.js
@@ -772,6 +772,39 @@ describe("utils", () => {
       value = []
       assertValidateParam(param, value, [])
 
+      // valid, empty array, with validation constraint
+      param = {
+        required: false,
+        schema: {
+          type: "array",
+          minItems: 1
+        }
+      }
+      value = undefined
+      assertValidateOas3Param(param, value, [])
+
+      // invalid, empty array, with minItems validation constraint
+      param = {
+        required: false,
+        schema: {
+          type: "array",
+          minItems: 2
+        }
+      }
+      value = ["12"]
+      assertValidateOas3Param(param, value, ["Array must contain at least 2 items"])
+
+      // valid, valid array with satisfied minItems validation constraint
+      param = {
+        required: false,
+        schema: {
+          type: "array",
+          minItems: 1
+        }
+      }
+      value = ["probe"]
+      assertValidateOas3Param(param, value, [])
+
       // invalid, items do not match correct type
       param = {
         required: false,