diff --git a/app/views/main/samplemap.html.erb b/app/views/main/samplemap.html.erb
index d808b248..b6eb94da 100644
--- a/app/views/main/samplemap.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/main/samplemap.html.erb
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+<% if @map %>
 <div class="focus">
 	<div class="focusleft">
 		<p># of Topics: <%= @map.items.count %></p>
@@ -31,4 +32,8 @@
 			initFD();
 		});
 	}
-</script>
\ No newline at end of file
+</script>
+
+<% else %>
+  <h1><br>Shucks, there are no maps.<h1>
+<% end %>