diff --git a/tests/test_toml_document.py b/tests/test_toml_document.py
index 7ba61f5..cb0af6f 100644
--- a/tests/test_toml_document.py
+++ b/tests/test_toml_document.py
@@ -1666,3 +1666,71 @@ def test_scalar_is_not_captured_by_table_rendered_from_dotted_key() -> None:
     doc["z"] = 2
 
     assert doc.as_string() == "a.b = 1\nz = 2\n"
+
+
+def test_emptied_array_of_tables_renders_as_empty_array() -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/553
+    # An array of tables with no elements left has no `[[key]]` header to
+    # render, so it must fall back to the inline `key = []` form. Rendering
+    # nothing dropped the key entirely.
+    doc = parse("[[a]]\nx = 1\n")
+    doc["a"].pop()
+
+    assert doc.as_string() == "a = []\n"
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()) == {"a": []}
+
+
+def test_emptied_array_of_tables_is_hoisted_above_table_headers() -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/553
+    # TOML only reads bare key/value pairs before the first table header, so
+    # the inline fallback has to be emitted there rather than in body order.
+    # Left in place it would be parsed back as a key of the preceding table.
+    doc = parse("[t]\nq = 2\n\n[[a]]\nx = 1\n")
+    doc["a"].pop()
+
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()) == {"t": {"q": 2}, "a": []}
+    assert doc.as_string().index("a = []") < doc.as_string().index("[t]")
+
+
+def test_emptied_array_of_tables_keeps_preceding_scalars() -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/553
+    doc = parse("v = 9\n\n[[a]]\nx = 1\n")
+    doc["a"].pop()
+
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()) == {"v": 9, "a": []}
+
+
+def test_non_empty_array_of_tables_is_not_hoisted() -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/553
+    # Only emptied arrays of tables change form; ordinary ones must round-trip
+    # byte for byte.
+    content = "[t]\nq = 2\n\n[[a]]\nx = 1\n"
+
+    assert parse(content).as_string() == content
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    ("content", "empty"),
+    [
+        # Nested directly under a table.
+        ("[t]\nq = 2\n\n[[t.a]]\nx = 1\n", lambda doc: doc["t"]["a"]),
+        # Nested under a table that also has a sibling sub-table after it.
+        ("[t]\n\n[[t.a]]\nx = 1\n\n[t.b]\ny = 3\n", lambda doc: doc["t"]["a"]),
+        # ... and before it, so the fallback has to move.
+        ("[t]\n\n[t.b]\ny = 3\n\n[[t.a]]\nx = 1\n", lambda doc: doc["t"]["a"]),
+        # Two levels down.
+        ("[t]\n\n[t.u]\n\n[[t.u.a]]\nx = 1\n", lambda doc: doc["t"]["u"]["a"]),
+        # Inside an element of another array of tables.
+        ("[[e]]\nn = 1\n\n[[e.a]]\nx = 1\n", lambda doc: doc["e"][0]["a"]),
+    ],
+)
+def test_emptied_nested_array_of_tables_round_trips(content, empty) -> None:
+    # https://github.com/python-poetry/tomlkit/issues/553
+    # The inline fallback is a bare key/value pair emitted inside the scope its
+    # header named, so it must be written with the bare key. Carrying the
+    # header prefix over emitted `t.a = []` under `[t]`, which reads back as
+    # `t.t.a`.
+    doc = parse(content)
+    empty(doc).pop()
+
+    assert parse(doc.as_string()).unwrap() == doc.unwrap()
diff --git a/tomlkit/container.py b/tomlkit/container.py
index 8ff30d9..32cadec 100644
--- a/tomlkit/container.py
+++ b/tomlkit/container.py
@@ -32,6 +32,47 @@
 _NOT_SET = object()
 
 
+def _is_empty_aot(item: Item) -> bool:
+    """Whether ``item`` is an array of tables with no elements left."""
+    return isinstance(item, AoT) and not item.body
+
+
+def _hoist_empty_aots(
+    body: list[tuple[Key | None, Item]],
+) -> list[tuple[Key | None, Item]]:
+    """Order a table body so emptied arrays of tables render before any header.
+
+    An emptied array of tables has no ``[[key]]`` header left to render, so it
+    falls back to the inline ``key = []`` form. TOML reads a bare key/value pair
+    into whichever table the closest preceding header opened, so one left in
+    body order after a header would be read back as a key of *that* table
+    instead of of the table it belongs to.
+    """
+    first_header = next(
+        (
+            i
+            for i, (_, v) in enumerate(body)
+            if isinstance(v, (Table, AoT)) and not _is_empty_aot(v)
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    if first_header is None:
+        return body
+
+    hoisted = [
+        (k, v) for k, v in body[first_header:] if k is not None and _is_empty_aot(v)
+    ]
+    if not hoisted:
+        return body
+
+    rest = [
+        (k, v)
+        for k, v in body[first_header:]
+        if not (k is not None and _is_empty_aot(v))
+    ]
+    return body[:first_header] + hoisted + rest
+
+
 class Container(_CustomDict):  # type: ignore[type-arg]
     """
     A container for items within a TOMLDocument.
@@ -633,8 +674,11 @@ def last_item(self) -> Item | None:
     def as_string(self) -> str:
         """Render as TOML string."""
         s = ""
-        for k, v in self._body:
+        for k, v in _hoist_empty_aots(self._body):
             if k is not None:
+                if _is_empty_aot(v):
+                    s += self._render_aot(k, v)
+                    continue
                 if isinstance(v, Table):
                     if (
                         s.strip(" ")
@@ -707,8 +751,10 @@ def _render_table(self, key: Key, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> st
         elif table.trivia.indent == "\n":
             cur += table.trivia.indent
 
-        for k, v in table.value.body:
-            if isinstance(v, Table):
+        for k, v in _hoist_empty_aots(table.value.body):
+            if k is not None and _is_empty_aot(v):
+                cur += self._render_aot(k, v)
+            elif isinstance(v, Table):
                 if (
                     cur.strip(" ")
                     and not cur.strip(" ").endswith("\n")
@@ -741,6 +787,24 @@ def _render_table(self, key: Key, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> st
         return cur
 
     def _render_aot(self, key: Key, aot: AoT, prefix: str | None = None) -> str:
+        if not aot.body:
+            # An array of tables with no elements has no ``[[key]]`` header to
+            # render, so fall back to the inline empty-array form. Rendering
+            # nothing would drop the key entirely.
+            #
+            # ``prefix`` is deliberately not applied: the fallback is a bare
+            # key/value pair emitted inside the scope the prefix names, so
+            # repeating the prefix would nest the key under itself.
+            trail = aot.trivia.trail or "\n"
+            return (
+                f"{aot.trivia.indent}"
+                f"{decode(key.as_string())}"
+                f" = []"
+                f"{aot.trivia.comment_ws}"
+                f"{decode(aot.trivia.comment)}"
+                f"{trail}"
+            )
+
         _key = key.as_string()
         if prefix is not None:
             _key = prefix + "." + _key
@@ -767,8 +831,10 @@ def _render_aot_table(self, table: Table, prefix: str | None = None) -> str:
             f"{table.trivia.trail}"
         )
 
-        for k, v in table.value.body:
-            if isinstance(v, Table):
+        for k, v in _hoist_empty_aots(table.value.body):
+            if k is not None and _is_empty_aot(v):
+                cur += self._render_aot(k, v)
+            elif isinstance(v, Table):
                 assert k is not None
                 if v.is_super_table():
                     if k.is_dotted():