diff --git a/plugins/removeHiddenElems.js b/plugins/removeHiddenElems.js
index 87aa5fc62..efa1be430 100644
--- a/plugins/removeHiddenElems.js
+++ b/plugins/removeHiddenElems.js
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 'use strict';
 
 const { computeStyle } = require('../lib/style.js');
+const { parsePathData } = require('../lib/path.js');
 
 exports.type = 'perItem';
 
@@ -27,8 +28,6 @@ exports.params = {
   polygonEmptyPoints: true,
 };
 
-var regValidPath = /M\s*(?:[-+]?(?:\d*\.\d+|\d+(?:\.|(?!\.)))([eE][-+]?\d+)?(?!\d)\s*,?\s*){2}\D*\d/i;
-
 /**
  * Remove hidden elements with disabled rendering:
  * - display="none"
@@ -229,12 +228,23 @@ exports.fn = function (item, params) {
     // https://www.w3.org/TR/SVG11/paths.html#DAttribute
     //
     // <path d=""/>
-    if (
-      params.pathEmptyD &&
-      item.isElem('path') &&
-      (!item.hasAttr('d') || !regValidPath.test(item.attr('d').value))
-    ) {
-      return false;
+    if (params.pathEmptyD && item.isElem('path')) {
+      if (item.hasAttr('d') === false) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      const pathData = parsePathData(item.attr('d').value);
+      if (pathData.length === 0) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      // keep single point paths for markers
+      if (
+        pathData.length === 1 &&
+        computedStyle['marker-start'] == null &&
+        computedStyle['marker-end'] == null
+      ) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      return true;
     }
 
     // Polyline with empty points
diff --git a/test/plugins/removeHiddenElems.08.svg b/test/plugins/removeHiddenElems.08.svg
index 010950dc0..52d7d9e0d 100644
--- a/test/plugins/removeHiddenElems.08.svg
+++ b/test/plugins/removeHiddenElems.08.svg
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
         <path/>
         <path d="z"/>
         <path d="M 50 50"/>
+        <path d="M 50 50 L 0"/>
         <path d="M1.25.75"/>
         <path d="M 50 50 20 20"/>
         <path d="M 50,50 20,20"/>
@@ -10,6 +11,10 @@
         <path d="M4.1.5.5.1"/>
         <path d="M10.77.45c-.19-.2-.51-.2-.7 0"/>
         <path d="M 6.39441613e-11,8.00287799 C2.85816855e-11,3.58301052 3.5797863,0 8.00005106,0"/>
+        <path d="" marker-start="url(#id)"/>
+        <path d="" marker-end="url(#id)"/>
+        <path d="M 50 50" marker-start="url(#id)"/>
+        <path d="M 50 50" marker-end="url(#id)"/>
     </g>
 </svg>
 
@@ -23,5 +28,7 @@
         <path d="M4.1.5.5.1"/>
         <path d="M10.77.45c-.19-.2-.51-.2-.7 0"/>
         <path d="M 6.39441613e-11,8.00287799 C2.85816855e-11,3.58301052 3.5797863,0 8.00005106,0"/>
+        <path d="M 50 50" marker-start="url(#id)"/>
+        <path d="M 50 50" marker-end="url(#id)"/>
     </g>
 </svg>