diff --git a/__tests__/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.test.js b/__tests__/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.test.js
index 1c600f9f1b..91fda9666f 100644
--- a/__tests__/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.test.js
+++ b/__tests__/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.test.js
@@ -27,6 +27,12 @@ describe('WorkspaceAdd', () => {
     expect(wrapper.find(ManifestListItem).length).toBe(2);
   });
 
+  it('without manifests, renders an empty message', () => {
+    const wrapper = createWrapper({ manifests: {} });
+    expect(wrapper.find(ManifestListItem).length).toEqual(0);
+    expect(wrapper.find('WithStyles(Typography)').first().children().text()).toEqual('emptyResourceList');
+  });
+
   it('toggles the workspace visibility', () => {
     const setWorkspaceAddVisibility = jest.fn();
     const wrapper = createWrapper({ setWorkspaceAddVisibility });
diff --git a/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.js b/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.js
index 8cef253ea6..035ccf4d23 100644
--- a/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.js
+++ b/src/components/WorkspaceAdd.js
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import AddIcon from '@material-ui/icons/AddSharp';
 import ExpandMoreIcon from '@material-ui/icons/ExpandMoreSharp';
 import AppBar from '@material-ui/core/AppBar';
 import Drawer from '@material-ui/core/Drawer';
+import Grid from '@material-ui/core/Grid';
 import Fab from '@material-ui/core/Fab';
 import List from '@material-ui/core/List';
 import Paper from '@material-ui/core/Paper';
@@ -56,13 +57,35 @@ export class WorkspaceAdd extends React.Component {
 
     return (
       <div className={ns('workspace-add')}>
-        <Paper className={classes.list}>
-          <Typography variant="srOnly" component="h1">{t('miradorResources')}</Typography>
-          <List>
-            {manifestList}
-          </List>
-        </Paper>
-
+        {(Object.keys(manifests).length < 1) ? (
+          <Grid
+            alignItems="center"
+            container
+            style={{
+              height: '100%',
+            }}
+          >
+            <Grid
+              xs={12}
+              item
+            >
+              <Typography
+                variant="h1"
+                component="div"
+                align="center"
+              >
+                {t('emptyResourceList')}
+              </Typography>
+            </Grid>
+          </Grid>
+        ) : (
+          <Paper className={classes.list}>
+            <Typography variant="srOnly" component="h1">{t('miradorResources')}</Typography>
+            <List>
+              {manifestList}
+            </List>
+          </Paper>
+        )}
         <Fab
           variant="extended"
           disabled={addResourcesOpen}
diff --git a/src/locales/de/translation.json b/src/locales/de/translation.json
index b8703b6d16..7828e98e4b 100644
--- a/src/locales/de/translation.json
+++ b/src/locales/de/translation.json
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
     "downloadExportWorkspace": "Arbeitsfläche exortieren",
     "elastic": "Elastisch",
     "elasticDescription": "Fenster können frei und unbegrenzt innerhalb der Arbeitsfläche bewegt werden und sich überlappen",
+    "emptyResourceList": "Ihre Ressourcenliste ist leer",
     "errorDialogTitle": "Es ist ein Fehler aufgetreten",
     "errorDialogConfirm": "OK",
     "exitFullScreen": "Vollbildmodus verlassen",
diff --git a/src/locales/en/translation.json b/src/locales/en/translation.json
index 5ba797d08d..af50f22f88 100644
--- a/src/locales/en/translation.json
+++ b/src/locales/en/translation.json
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
     "downloadExportWorkspace": "Export workspace",
     "elastic": "Elastic",
     "elasticDescription": "Move and size windows freely in an unlimited workspace. Windows can overlap.",
+    "emptyResourceList": "Your resource list is empty",
     "errorDialogConfirm": "OK",
     "errorDialogTitle": "An error occurred",
     "exitFullScreen": "Exit full screen",