diff --git a/.changeset/small-apples-visit.md b/.changeset/small-apples-visit.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e811fa0f1bc0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/small-apples-visit.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@sveltejs/kit': patch
+---
+
+Always create `$types` for a route with a layout, leaf or endpoint
diff --git a/packages/kit/src/core/sync/write_types.js b/packages/kit/src/core/sync/write_types.js
index 470bd418e16f..ab1204d3a7fa 100644
--- a/packages/kit/src/core/sync/write_types.js
+++ b/packages/kit/src/core/sync/write_types.js
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ function update_types(config, manifest_data, route) {
 		input_files.push(route.endpoint.file);
 	}
 
-	if (input_files.length === 0) return; // nothing to do
+	if (!route.leaf && !route.layout && !route.endpoint) return; // nothing to do
 
 	try {
 		fs.mkdirSync(outdir, { recursive: true });