diff --git a/src/lib/PostgresMetaPublications.ts b/src/lib/PostgresMetaPublications.ts
index f3fdc549..d0ca8c64 100644
--- a/src/lib/PostgresMetaPublications.ts
+++ b/src/lib/PostgresMetaPublications.ts
@@ -97,9 +97,16 @@ export default class PostgresMetaPublications {
     if (publish_delete) publishOps.push('delete')
     if (publish_truncate) publishOps.push('truncate')
 
+    // When no publish operations are specified, omit the WITH clause entirely.
+    // PostgreSQL does not accept an empty publish list (WITH (publish = '')) and
+    // will return an error. Omitting the clause uses PostgreSQL's default, which
+    // publishes all operations (insert, update, delete, truncate).
+    const publishClause =
+      publishOps.length > 0 ? `WITH (publish = '${publishOps.join(',')}')` : ''
+
     const sql = `
 CREATE PUBLICATION ${ident(name)} ${tableClause}
-  WITH (publish = '${publishOps.join(',')}');`
+  ${publishClause};`
     const { error } = await this.query(sql)
     if (error) {
       return { data: null, error }
diff --git a/test/lib/publications.ts b/test/lib/publications.ts
index 1f1c973b..033d7ab0 100644
--- a/test/lib/publications.ts
+++ b/test/lib/publications.ts
@@ -242,6 +242,24 @@ test('update no tables -> all tables', async () => {
   await pgMeta.publications.remove(res.data!.id)
 })
 
+test('create with no publish operations uses PostgreSQL defaults', async () => {
+  // Regression test: when no publish_* flags are set, the old code generated
+  // `WITH (publish = '')` which is invalid SQL. The fix omits the WITH clause,
+  // causing PostgreSQL to default to publishing all operations.
+  const res = await pgMeta.publications.create({
+    name: 'pub_no_ops',
+  })
+  expect(res.error).toBeNull()
+  expect(res.data).toMatchObject({
+    name: 'pub_no_ops',
+    publish_insert: true,
+    publish_update: true,
+    publish_delete: true,
+    publish_truncate: true,
+  })
+  await pgMeta.publications.remove(res.data!.id)
+})
+
 test('update all tables -> no tables', async () => {
   const { data } = await pgMeta.publications.create({
     name: 'pub',