diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_formats/src/from/ini.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_formats/src/from/ini.rs
index 03c5a36ec0..3c09934f1f 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_formats/src/from/ini.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_formats/src/from/ini.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,10 @@ pub fn from_ini_call(call: &EvaluatedCall, input: &Value) -> Result<Value, Label
                         sections.push(section_name.to_owned());
                     }
                     None => {
-                        sections.push(String::new());
+                        // Section (None) allows for key value pairs without a section
+                        if !properties.is_empty() {
+                            sections.push(String::new());
+                        }
                     }
                 }
 
@@ -38,11 +41,14 @@ pub fn from_ini_call(call: &EvaluatedCall, input: &Value) -> Result<Value, Label
                 }
 
                 // section with its key value pairs
-                sections_key_value_pairs.push(Value::Record {
-                    cols: keys_for_section,
-                    vals: values_for_section,
-                    span,
-                });
+                // Only add section if contains key,value pair
+                if !properties.is_empty() {
+                    sections_key_value_pairs.push(Value::Record {
+                        cols: keys_for_section,
+                        vals: values_for_section,
+                        span,
+                    });
+                }
             }
 
             // all sections with all its key value pairs
diff --git a/tests/plugins/formats/ini.rs b/tests/plugins/formats/ini.rs
index bbb2a4cb19..cd467d5559 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/formats/ini.rs
+++ b/tests/plugins/formats/ini.rs
@@ -10,10 +10,13 @@ fn parses_ini() {
     let actual = nu_with_plugins!(
         cwd: TEST_CWD,
         plugin: ("nu_plugin_formats"),
-        "open sample.ini | get SectionOne.integer"
+        "open sample.ini | to nuon -r"
     );
 
-    assert_eq!(actual.out, "1234")
+    assert_eq!(
+        actual.out,
+        r#"{SectionOne: {key: value, integer: "1234", real: "3.14", "string1": "Case 1", "string2": "Case 2"}, SectionTwo: {key: "new value", integer: "5678", real: "3.14", "string1": "Case 1", "string2": "Case 2", "string3": "Case 3"}}"#
+    )
 }
 
 #[test]