diff --git a/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_detect.py b/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_detect.py
index 69bd8a8f931..ae6b9c260cd 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_detect.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_detect.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ class MicrosoftFaceDetectEntity(ImageProcessingFaceEntity):
             return
 
         if not face_data:
-            return
+            face_data = []
 
         faces = []
         for face in face_data:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_identify.py b/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_identify.py
index 0a5b7725260..7a427d9b046 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_identify.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/image_processing/microsoft_face_identify.py
@@ -83,18 +83,16 @@ class MicrosoftFaceIdentifyEntity(ImageProcessingFaceEntity):
 
         This method is a coroutine.
         """
-        detect = None
+        detect = []
         try:
             face_data = await self._api.call_api(
                 'post', 'detect', image, binary=True)
 
-            if not face_data:
-                return
-
-            face_ids = [data['faceId'] for data in face_data]
-            detect = await self._api.call_api(
-                'post', 'identify',
-                {'faceIds': face_ids, 'personGroupId': self._face_group})
+            if face_data:
+                face_ids = [data['faceId'] for data in face_data]
+                detect = await self._api.call_api(
+                    'post', 'identify',
+                    {'faceIds': face_ids, 'personGroupId': self._face_group})
 
         except HomeAssistantError as err:
             _LOGGER.error("Can't process image on Microsoft face: %s", err)
diff --git a/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_detect.py b/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_detect.py
index c7528c346ee..9e65386a3c6 100644
--- a/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_detect.py
+++ b/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_detect.py
@@ -160,3 +160,23 @@ class TestMicrosoftFaceDetect:
         assert face_events[0].data['gender'] == 'male'
         assert face_events[0].data['entity_id'] == \
             'image_processing.test_local'
+
+        # Test that later, if a request is made that results in no face
+        # being detected, that this is reflected in the state object
+        aioclient_mock.clear_requests()
+        aioclient_mock.post(
+            self.endpoint_url.format("detect"),
+            text="[]",
+            params={'returnFaceAttributes': "age,gender"}
+        )
+
+        common.scan(self.hass, entity_id='image_processing.test_local')
+        self.hass.block_till_done()
+
+        state = self.hass.states.get('image_processing.test_local')
+
+        # No more face events were fired
+        assert len(face_events) == 1
+        # Total faces and actual qualified number of faces reset to zero
+        assert state.attributes.get('total_faces') == 0
+        assert state.state == '0'
diff --git a/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_identify.py b/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_identify.py
index 892326e5bff..c24e758da97 100644
--- a/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_identify.py
+++ b/tests/components/image_processing/test_microsoft_face_identify.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from unittest.mock import patch, PropertyMock
 
 from homeassistant.core import callback
-from homeassistant.const import ATTR_ENTITY_PICTURE
+from homeassistant.const import ATTR_ENTITY_PICTURE, STATE_UNKNOWN
 from homeassistant.setup import setup_component
 import homeassistant.components.image_processing as ip
 import homeassistant.components.microsoft_face as mf
@@ -164,3 +164,22 @@ class TestMicrosoftFaceIdentify:
         assert face_events[0].data['confidence'] == float(92)
         assert face_events[0].data['entity_id'] == \
             'image_processing.test_local'
+
+        # Test that later, if a request is made that results in no face
+        # being detected, that this is reflected in the state object
+        aioclient_mock.clear_requests()
+        aioclient_mock.post(
+            self.endpoint_url.format("detect"),
+            text="[]"
+        )
+
+        common.scan(self.hass, entity_id='image_processing.test_local')
+        self.hass.block_till_done()
+
+        state = self.hass.states.get('image_processing.test_local')
+
+        # No more face events were fired
+        assert len(face_events) == 1
+        # Total faces and actual qualified number of faces reset to zero
+        assert state.attributes.get('total_faces') == 0
+        assert state.state == STATE_UNKNOWN