System and methods for prevention of empty media trays in a print system. In one embodiment, a system includes a print controller configured to receive a print job, and to initiate collection of media from a media tray based on information in the print job. The system also includes a supply detection module configured to detect a low supply of the media in the media tray, and to generate an error responsive to detection of the low supply before the media tray is empty. The print controller is configured to stop the collection of the media based on the error signal so that at least one sheet of the media remains in the media tray.