diff --git a/src/codemodder/codemods/use_walrus_if.py b/src/codemodder/codemods/use_walrus_if.py
index 27dba7032..930006679 100644
--- a/src/codemodder/codemods/use_walrus_if.py
+++ b/src/codemodder/codemods/use_walrus_if.py
@@ -106,3 +106,14 @@ def leave_Assign(self, original_node, updated_node):
                 return cst.RemoveFromParent()
 
         return original_node
+
+    def leave_SimpleStatementLine(self, original_node, updated_node):
+        """
+        This is a workaround for the fact that libcst doesn't preserve the whitespace in the parent node when all children are removed.
+
+        This feels like a bug in libCST but we'll work around it for now.
+        """
+        if not updated_node.body:
+            return cst.FlattenSentinel(original_node.leading_lines)
+
+        return updated_node
diff --git a/tests/codemods/test_walrus_if.py b/tests/codemods/test_walrus_if.py
index c1b8c9e9f..7c9b7a7ce 100644
--- a/tests/codemods/test_walrus_if.py
+++ b/tests/codemods/test_walrus_if.py
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ def test_walrus_if_multiple(self, tmpdir):
 if foo == "bar":
     whatever(foo)
 """
-        # TODO: not sure why libcst isn't preserving empty lines
         expected_output = """
 if (val := do_something()) is not None:
     do_something_else(val)
+
 if (foo := hello()) == "bar":
     whatever(foo)
 """