diff --git a/src/prefect/server/orchestration/core_policy.py b/src/prefect/server/orchestration/core_policy.py
index 9cd44ab73915..7df459d9d12f 100644
--- a/src/prefect/server/orchestration/core_policy.py
+++ b/src/prefect/server/orchestration/core_policy.py
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@ async def before_transition(
         run_count = context.run.run_count
         delay = run_settings.retry_delay
 
-        if isinstance(delay, list):
+        if delay and isinstance(delay, list):
             base_delay = delay[min(run_count - 1, len(delay) - 1)]
         else:
             base_delay = run_settings.retry_delay or 0