diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/search.py b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
index 4b9100fb..558c2039 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/search.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/search.py
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ class Search(View):
             results = endpoints[search_type](
                 query, request.user, min_confidence, search_remote
             )
-            paginated = Paginator(results, PAGE_LENGTH).get_page(
-                request.GET.get("page")
-            )
-            data["results"] = paginated
+            if results:
+                paginated = Paginator(results, PAGE_LENGTH).get_page(
+                    request.GET.get("page")
+                )
+                data["results"] = paginated
 
         return TemplateResponse(request, "search/{:s}.html".format(search_type), data)