diff --git a/cmd/krew/cmd/search.go b/cmd/krew/cmd/search.go
index 0c53a0e84c..9f2f7b7695 100644
--- a/cmd/krew/cmd/search.go
+++ b/cmd/krew/cmd/search.go
@@ -61,6 +61,11 @@ Search accepts a list of words as options.`,
 			matchNames = names
 		}
 
+		// No plugins found
+		if len(matchNames) == 0 {
+			return nil
+		}
+
 		rowPattern := "%s\t%s\t%s\n"
 		w := tabwriter.NewWriter(os.Stdout, 0, 0, 1, ' ', 0)
 		fmt.Fprintf(w, rowPattern, "NAME", "DESCRIPTION", "STATUS")