diff --git a/django/db/models/query.py b/django/db/models/query.py
index 29d689eaab..bb0f31c18e 100644
--- a/django/db/models/query.py
+++ b/django/db/models/query.py
@@ -213,7 +213,8 @@ class QuerySet(object):
                 "Cannot use 'limit' or 'offset' with in_bulk"
         assert isinstance(id_list, (tuple,  list)), "in_bulk() must be provided with a list of IDs."
         id_list = list(id_list)
-        assert id_list != [], "in_bulk() cannot be passed an empty ID list."
+        if id_list == []:
+            return {}
         qs = self._clone()
         qs._where.append("%s.%s IN (%s)" % (backend.quote_name(self.model._meta.db_table), backend.quote_name(self.model._meta.pk.column), ",".join(['%s'] * len(id_list))))
         qs._params.extend(id_list)
diff --git a/tests/modeltests/lookup/models.py b/tests/modeltests/lookup/models.py
index 811db5b466..605c05adbe 100644
--- a/tests/modeltests/lookup/models.py
+++ b/tests/modeltests/lookup/models.py
@@ -67,9 +67,7 @@ Article 4
 >>> Article.objects.in_bulk([1000])
 {}
 >>> Article.objects.in_bulk([])
-Traceback (most recent call last):
-    ...
-AssertionError: in_bulk() cannot be passed an empty ID list.
+{}
 >>> Article.objects.in_bulk('foo')
 Traceback (most recent call last):
     ...