diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.test.tsx b/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.test.tsx
index 6cc17f0cb..3c908fac5 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.test.tsx
@@ -74,6 +74,15 @@ describe('ScopesVariable', () => {
     const { valueChangedCount } = renderTestScene({ initialScopes: [] });
     expect(valueChangedCount.value).toEqual(1);
   });
+
+  it('should not emit a change event if the old and new scopes are empty', async () => {
+    const { scopesContext, valueChangedCount } = renderTestScene({ initialScopes: [] });
+
+    act(() => scopesContext.changeScopes([]));
+    act(() => scopesContext.changeScopes([]));
+
+    expect(valueChangedCount.value).toEqual(1);
+  });
 });
 
 interface SetupOptions {
diff --git a/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.tsx b/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.tsx
index d97d1625e..33273c265 100644
--- a/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.tsx
+++ b/packages/scenes/src/variables/variants/ScopesVariable.tsx
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@ export interface ScopesVariableState extends SceneVariableState {
 export class ScopesVariable extends SceneObjectBase<ScopesVariableState> implements SceneVariable<ScopesVariableState> {
   protected _renderBeforeActivation = true;
   protected _context: ScopesContextValue | undefined;
+  // Used to always emit an update event on initial load
+  private _isInitialUpdate = true;
 
   // Special options that enables variables to be hidden but still render to access react contexts
   public UNSAFE_renderAsHidden = true;
@@ -100,11 +102,13 @@ export class ScopesVariable extends SceneObjectBase<ScopesVariableState> impleme
     const scopesHaveChanged = !isEqual(oldScopes, newScopes);
 
     // Only update scopes value state when loading is false and the scopes have changed
-    if (!loading && (scopesHaveChanged || newScopes.length === 0)) {
+    // Emit on initial load to ensure that the variable is updated when the scopes are empty
+    if (!loading && (scopesHaveChanged || this._isInitialUpdate)) {
       const queryController = getQueryController(this);
       queryController?.startProfile(SCOPES_CHANGED_INTERACTION);
       this.setState({ scopes: state.value, loading });
       this.publishEvent(new SceneVariableValueChangedEvent(this), true);
+      this._isInitialUpdate = false;
     } else {
       this.setState({ loading });
     }