diff --git a/app/views/projects/autocomplete.js.erb b/app/views/projects/autocomplete.js.erb
index de6c3f579..03f7fa640 100644
--- a/app/views/projects/autocomplete.js.erb
+++ b/app/views/projects/autocomplete.js.erb
@@ -1,2 +1,9 @@
-<% s = @projects.any? ? render_projects_for_jump_box(@projects) : content_tag('span', l(:label_no_data)) %>
+<%
+  s = ''
+  if @projects.any?
+    s = render_projects_for_jump_box(@projects)
+  elsif params[:q].present?
+    s = content_tag('span', l(:label_no_data))
+  end
+%>
 $('#project-jump .drdn-items.projects').html('<%= escape_javascript s %>');