diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/global_activities/side_pane.js b/app/assets/javascripts/global_activities/side_pane.js
index 8698fd86a..1156711fc 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/global_activities/side_pane.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/global_activities/side_pane.js
@@ -124,6 +124,7 @@ $(function() {
   // update_filter
   function reloadActivities() {
     var moreButton = $('.btn-more-activities');
+    var noActivitiesMessage = $('.no-activities-message');
     if (updateRunning) return false;
     updateRunning = true;
     $('.ga-activities-list .activities-day').remove();
@@ -141,6 +142,11 @@ $(function() {
         } else {
           moreButton.addClass('hidden');
         }
+        if (json.activities_html === "") {
+          noActivitiesMessage.removeClass('hidden');
+        } else {
+          noActivitiesMessage.addClass('hidden');
+        }
         updateRunning = false;
         animateSpinner(null, false);
       },
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/global_activities.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/global_activities.scss
index d2121bdd8..d9f61fa7f 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/global_activities.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/global_activities.scss
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@
         }
       }
     }
+    .no-activities-message {
+      margin-top: 20px;
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/app/views/global_activities/index.html.erb b/app/views/global_activities/index.html.erb
index 239571cfe..8a1729cb8 100644
--- a/app/views/global_activities/index.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/global_activities/index.html.erb
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@
     </div>
 
     <div class="ga-main col-lg-9 col-md-12 col-xl-10">
+      <div class="no-activities-message text-center <%= 'hidden' if @grouped_activities.keys.any? %>">
+        <p><%= t('activities.index.no_activities_message') %></p>
+      </div>
       <div class="ga-activities-list" data-activities-url="<%= global_activities_path %>">
         <%= render partial: "activity_list.html.erb" %>
       </div>
diff --git a/config/locales/en.yml b/config/locales/en.yml
index 0820c43c8..365e30096 100644
--- a/config/locales/en.yml
+++ b/config/locales/en.yml
@@ -1309,6 +1309,7 @@ en:
       today: "Today"
       more_activities: "Show more activities"
       no_activities: "No activities!"
+      no_activities_message: "No activities could be displayed. Update filters or start using SciNote to generate your first activities."
       activity_counter_label: " activity"
       activities_counter_label: " activities"
       expand_all: "Expand all"