diff --git a/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/DBobjectdefs.pm b/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/DBobjectdefs.pm
index 2cb05752f..da4e887f1 100644
--- a/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/DBobjectdefs.pm
+++ b/xCAT-server/lib/xcat/plugins/DBobjectdefs.pm
@@ -1197,6 +1197,15 @@ sub defmk
             }
 
         }    # end - if type = node
+        # If none of the attributes in nodelist is defined: groups,status,appstatus,primarysn,comments,disable
+        # the nodelist table will not be updated, caused mkdef failed.
+        # We can give a restriction that the "groups" must be specified with mkdef,
+        # but it is not so reasonable especially when the dynamic node group feature is implemented.
+        # fixing this issue with specifying an empty "groups" if the "groups" is not specified with the command line or stanza file
+        if (($type eq "node") && !defined($::FINALATTRS{$obj}{groups}))
+        {
+            $::FINALATTRS{$obj}{groups} = '';
+        }
 
     } # end of each obj