diff --git a/inventoryClient.lua b/inventoryClient.lua
index 1bbc082..205ea7d 100644
--- a/inventoryClient.lua
+++ b/inventoryClient.lua
@@ -1384,12 +1384,18 @@ local function main()
             end
         end,
 
-        -- Task 4: Client barrel auto-sort (sends to master)
+        -- Task 4: Client barrel auto-sort (sends to master only when barrel has items)
         function()
             if CLIENT_BARREL_NAME == "" then return end
             print("[OK]   Client barrel: " .. CLIENT_BARREL_NAME)
             while true do
-                sendToMaster({ type = "sort_barrel", barrelName = CLIENT_BARREL_NAME })
+                local barrel = peripheral.wrap(CLIENT_BARREL_NAME)
+                if barrel then
+                    local contents = barrel.list()
+                    if contents and next(contents) then
+                        sendToMaster({ type = "sort_barrel", barrelName = CLIENT_BARREL_NAME })
+                    end
+                end
                 sleep(2)
             end
         end,