diff --git a/voseq/public_interface/forms.py b/voseq/public_interface/forms.py
index 40db01de..b4a54dfd 100644
--- a/voseq/public_interface/forms.py
+++ b/voseq/public_interface/forms.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from django import forms
 from haystack.forms import ModelSearchForm
 from haystack.query import SearchQuerySet
+from haystack.query import EmptySearchQuerySet
 
 
 class AdvancedSearchForm(ModelSearchForm):
@@ -93,7 +94,8 @@ class AdvancedSearchForm(ModelSearchForm):
     labPerson = forms.CharField(max_length=100, required=False)
 
     def no_query_found(self):
-        return SearchQuerySet().none()
+        sqs = SearchQuerySet.none
+        return sqs
 
     def search(self):
         if not self.is_valid():
diff --git a/voseq/public_interface/templates/public_interface/search.html b/voseq/public_interface/templates/public_interface/search.html
index 5b186d5f..e24b106f 100644
--- a/voseq/public_interface/templates/public_interface/search.html
+++ b/voseq/public_interface/templates/public_interface/search.html
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 {% extends 'public_interface/base.html' %}
 
 {% block content %}
+
+
 <form method="get" action=".">
 <div class="explorer-container">
   <div class="container">
@@ -9,8 +11,12 @@ <h3>Search by querying a single field for any combination of fields</h3>
     </div><!-- row -->
 
     <div class="row">
-      <div class="col-lg-6">
 
+    {% if results == 'No results' %}
+       <div class="alert alert-warning"><b>No results were found</b></div>
+    {% endif %}
+
+      <div class="col-lg-6">
         <div class="panel panel-primary">
           <div class="panel-heading">
             <h3 class="panel-title"><b>Search by taxonomy</b></h3>
diff --git a/voseq/public_interface/views.py b/voseq/public_interface/views.py
index 45acfe1a..d369b32f 100644
--- a/voseq/public_interface/views.py
+++ b/voseq/public_interface/views.py
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ def search(request):
             if results:
                 return render(request, 'public_interface/search_results.html',
                               {'form': form, 'results': results})
+            else:
+                return render(request, 'public_interface/search.html',
+                              {'form': form, 'results': 'No results'})
     else:
         form = AdvancedSearchForm()