diff --git a/.changeset/breezy-books-matter.md b/.changeset/breezy-books-matter.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1bc206bdc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/breezy-books-matter.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'@backstage/plugin-search': patch
+---
+
+Fix empty state not being displayed on missing results.
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.test.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.test.tsx
index 0a18690353..9508eec259 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.test.tsx
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ describe('SearchResult', () => {
     });
   });
 
-  it('On empty result value state', async () => {
+  it('On no result value state', async () => {
     (useSearch as jest.Mock).mockReturnValueOnce({
       result: { loading: false, error: '', value: undefined },
     });
@@ -69,6 +69,20 @@ describe('SearchResult', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  it('On empty result value state', async () => {
+    (useSearch as jest.Mock).mockReturnValueOnce({
+      result: { loading: false, error: '', value: { results: [] } },
+    });
+
+    const { getByRole } = render(<SearchResult>{() => <></>}</SearchResult>);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(
+        getByRole('heading', { name: 'Sorry, no results were found' }),
+      ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+  });
+
   it('Calls children with results set to result.value', () => {
     (useSearch as jest.Mock).mockReturnValueOnce({
       result: { loading: false, error: '', value: { results: [] } },
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.tsx
index d720ff933a..a713ae3372 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchResult/SearchResult.tsx
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ const SearchResultComponent = ({ children }: Props) => {
     );
   }
 
-  if (!value) {
+  if (!value?.results.length) {
     return <EmptyState missing="data" title="Sorry, no results were found" />;
   }