diff --git a/static/js/stream_list.js b/static/js/stream_list.js
index 38fcc28043a47..f0542033f1ae9 100644
--- a/static/js/stream_list.js
+++ b/static/js/stream_list.js
@@ -153,8 +153,12 @@ export function build_stream_list(force_rerender) {
     for (const stream_id of stream_groups.dormant_streams) {
         add_sidebar_li(stream_id);
     }
-
-    parent.append(elems);
+    
+    if (elems.length > 0) {
+        parent.append(elems);
+    } else {
+        parent.append('<div class="stream-not-found"> No search results </div>');
+    }
 }
 
 export function get_stream_li(stream_id) {
diff --git a/static/styles/left_sidebar.css b/static/styles/left_sidebar.css
index b0ef4bc6f3002..ab9001d46c13e 100644
--- a/static/styles/left_sidebar.css
+++ b/static/styles/left_sidebar.css
@@ -84,6 +84,12 @@ li.show-more-topics {
     max-width: 18em;
 }
 
+.stream-not-found {
+    margin-left: 10px;
+    color: hsl(0, 0%, 67%);
+    font-style: italic;
+}
+
 #stream_filters {
     overflow: visible;
     margin-bottom: 5px;