diff --git a/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/stackedCharts/MarimekkoChart.tsx b/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/stackedCharts/MarimekkoChart.tsx
index 6628f52f762..ea07c48e5ab 100644
--- a/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/stackedCharts/MarimekkoChart.tsx
+++ b/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/stackedCharts/MarimekkoChart.tsx
@@ -825,7 +825,7 @@ export class MarimekkoChart
     // legend props
 
     @computed get legendPaddingTop(): number {
-        return this.baseFontSize
+        return this.legend.height > 0 ? this.baseFontSize : 0
     }
 
     @computed get legendX(): number {
@@ -858,19 +858,19 @@ export class MarimekkoChart
 
     @computed get categoricalLegendData(): CategoricalBin[] {
         const { colorColumnSlug, colorScale, series } = this
-        const customHiddenCategories =
-            this.colorScaleConfig?.customHiddenCategories
-        if (colorColumnSlug) return colorScale.categoricalLegendBins
-        else
+        if (colorColumnSlug) {
+            return colorScale.categoricalLegendBins
+        } else if (series.length > 0) {
             return series.map((series, index) => {
                 return new CategoricalBin({
                     index,
                     value: series.seriesName,
                     label: series.seriesName,
                     color: series.color,
-                    isHidden: !!customHiddenCategories?.[series.seriesName],
                 })
             })
+        }
+        return []
     }
 
     @action.bound onLegendMouseOver(bin: ColorScaleBin): void {