diff --git a/src/pydoc_markdown/contrib/processors/filter.py b/src/pydoc_markdown/contrib/processors/filter.py
index 7a8eb929..eacee7dc 100644
--- a/src/pydoc_markdown/contrib/processors/filter.py
+++ b/src/pydoc_markdown/contrib/processors/filter.py
@@ -79,18 +79,19 @@ def _match(self, obj: docspec.ApiObject) -> bool:
         members = getattr(obj, "members", [])
 
         def _check():
-            if members:
-                return True
-            if self.skip_empty_modules and isinstance(obj, docspec.Module) and not members:
-                return False
             if self.do_not_filter_modules and isinstance(obj, docspec.Module):
                 return True
-            if self.documented_only and not obj.docstring:
+            if self.skip_empty_modules and isinstance(obj, docspec.Module) and not members:
                 return False
             if self.exclude_private and obj.name.startswith("_") and not obj.name.endswith("_"):
                 return False
+            if members:
+                return True
             if self.exclude_special and obj.name in self.SPECIAL_MEMBERS:
                 return False
+            # Positioning this here will allow classes with no docstrings to be included
+            if self.documented_only and not obj.docstring:
+                return False
             return True
 
         if self.expression: