diff --git a/src/compiler/tsbuild.ts b/src/compiler/tsbuild.ts
index 498b9eb6432..d8eac339b4b 100644
--- a/src/compiler/tsbuild.ts
+++ b/src/compiler/tsbuild.ts
@@ -295,7 +295,8 @@ namespace ts {
     }
 
     function getOutputFileNames(inputFileName: string, configFile: ParsedCommandLine): ReadonlyArray<string> {
-        if (configFile.options.outFile) {
+        // outFile is handled elsewhere; .d.ts files don't generate outputs
+        if (configFile.options.outFile || fileExtensionIs(inputFileName, Extension.Dts)) {
             return emptyArray;
         }
 
diff --git a/tests/projects/sample1/core/some_decl.d.ts b/tests/projects/sample1/core/some_decl.d.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..2a9cf55cf28
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/projects/sample1/core/some_decl.d.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+declare const dts: any;