diff --git a/lang/de/lang.php b/lang/de/lang.php
index b9d2fd4..2ba6eaf 100644
--- a/lang/de/lang.php
+++ b/lang/de/lang.php
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@ $lang['lastmodified'] = 'Letzte Änderung';
 $lang['openlocation'] = 'Ort öffnen';
 $lang['error_nomatch'] = 'Keine Treffer';
 $lang['error_outsidejail'] = 'Zugriff verweigert';
+
+$lang['empty_files'] = 'Keine Dateien';
+$lang['empty_images'] = 'Keine Bilder';
diff --git a/lang/en/lang.php b/lang/en/lang.php
index 918b671..74d58f6 100644
--- a/lang/en/lang.php
+++ b/lang/en/lang.php
@@ -13,3 +13,6 @@ $lang['lastmodified'] = 'Last modified';
 $lang['openlocation'] = 'Open Location';
 $lang['error_nomatch'] = 'No match';
 $lang['error_outsidejail'] = 'Access denied';
+
+$lang['empty_files'] = 'No Files';
+$lang['empty_images'] = 'No Images';
diff --git a/lang/nl/lang.php b/lang/nl/lang.php
index 6d85d70..095f2b3 100644
--- a/lang/nl/lang.php
+++ b/lang/nl/lang.php
@@ -12,3 +12,6 @@ $lang['lastmodified'] = 'Laatst gewijzigd';
 $lang['openlocation'] = 'Locatie openen';
 $lang['error_nomatch'] = 'Niets gevonden';
 $lang['error_outsidejail'] = 'Toegang geweigerd';
+
+$lang['empty_files'] = 'Geen bestanden';
+$lang['empty_images'] = 'Geen afbeeldingen';
diff --git a/style.css b/style.css
index ae378b6..6d6d175 100644
--- a/style.css
+++ b/style.css
@@ -29,3 +29,20 @@ div.filetools-plugin a.media.mediafile.mf_folder,
 div.filetools-plugin a.mediafile.mf_folder {
     background-image: url(../../images/fileicons/svg/folder.svg) !important;
 }
+
+/* Muted empty-state message when a listing has no results. */
+div.filetools-plugin .luxtools-empty {
+    opacity: 0.65;
+    font-style: italic;
+    padding: 0.25em 0;
+}
+
+/* Image gallery spacing. */
+div.filetools-gallery {
+    padding-bottom: 0.5em;
+}
+
+div.filetools-gallery a.media {
+    display: inline-block;
+    margin: 0 0.35em 0.35em 0;
+}
diff --git a/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php b/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php
index 2d1e0c6..d3e9c8e 100644
--- a/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php
+++ b/syntax/AbstractSyntax.php
@@ -238,6 +238,25 @@ abstract class syntax_plugin_luxtools_abstract extends SyntaxPlugin
         $renderer->cdata('[n/a: ' . $this->getLang($langKey) . ']');
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Render a muted empty-state message (used when a listing has no results).
+     *
+     * @param \Doku_Renderer $renderer
+     * @param string $langKey
+     * @return void
+     */
+    protected function renderEmptyState(\Doku_Renderer $renderer, string $langKey): void
+    {
+        $text = (string)$this->getLang($langKey);
+
+        if ($renderer instanceof \Doku_Renderer_xhtml) {
+            $renderer->doc .= '<div class="filetools-plugin"><div class="luxtools-empty">' . hsc($text) . '</div></div>';
+            return;
+        }
+
+        $renderer->cdata($text);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Separate a path into base directory and pattern.
      *
diff --git a/syntax/directory.php b/syntax/directory.php
index a448b7f..916f081 100644
--- a/syntax/directory.php
+++ b/syntax/directory.php
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ class syntax_plugin_luxtools_directory extends syntax_plugin_luxtools_abstract
         );
 
         if ($items == []) {
-            $this->renderError($renderer, 'error_nomatch');
+            $this->renderEmptyState($renderer, 'empty_files');
             return true;
         }
 
diff --git a/syntax/files.php b/syntax/files.php
index e9bc104..bf12b2e 100644
--- a/syntax/files.php
+++ b/syntax/files.php
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class syntax_plugin_luxtools_files extends syntax_plugin_luxtools_abstract
         );
 
         if ($result == []) {
-            $this->renderError($renderer, 'error_nomatch');
+            $this->renderEmptyState($renderer, 'empty_files');
             return true;
         }
 
diff --git a/syntax/images.php b/syntax/images.php
index 02b66f9..5957b68 100644
--- a/syntax/images.php
+++ b/syntax/images.php
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ class syntax_plugin_luxtools_images extends syntax_plugin_luxtools_abstract
         $items = $this->filterImages($items);
 
         if ($items == []) {
-            $this->renderError($renderer, 'error_nomatch');
+            $this->renderEmptyState($renderer, 'empty_images');
             return true;
         }