diff --git a/archunit-junit/junit5/engine/src/main/java/com/tngtech/archunit/junit/internal/ArchUnitSystemPropertyTestFilterJUnit5.java b/archunit-junit/junit5/engine/src/main/java/com/tngtech/archunit/junit/internal/ArchUnitSystemPropertyTestFilterJUnit5.java
index ae9c3f12c..fcb9dc951 100644
--- a/archunit-junit/junit5/engine/src/main/java/com/tngtech/archunit/junit/internal/ArchUnitSystemPropertyTestFilterJUnit5.java
+++ b/archunit-junit/junit5/engine/src/main/java/com/tngtech/archunit/junit/internal/ArchUnitSystemPropertyTestFilterJUnit5.java
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ private void removeNonMatching(TestDescriptor descriptor, Predicate<TestDescript
         ImmutableSet.copyOf(descriptor.getChildren())
                 .forEach(child -> removeNonMatching(child, shouldRunPredicate));
 
-        if (descriptor.getChildren().isEmpty() && !shouldRunPredicate.test(descriptor)) {
+        if (!descriptor.isRoot() && descriptor.getChildren().isEmpty() && !shouldRunPredicate.test(descriptor)) {
             descriptor.removeFromHierarchy();
         }
     }