diff --git a/IPython/core/magics/execution.py b/IPython/core/magics/execution.py
index 66ee259..8a1552f 100644
--- a/IPython/core/magics/execution.py
+++ b/IPython/core/magics/execution.py
@@ -776,6 +776,10 @@ python-profiler package from non-free.""")
                                         posix=False, strict=False)
         if stmt == "" and cell is None:
             return
+        elif cell == '':
+            warn("Empty cell. Did you mean to use %timeit?")
+            return
+        
         timefunc = timeit.default_timer
         number = int(getattr(opts, "n", 0))
         repeat = int(getattr(opts, "r", timeit.default_repeat))