diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js b/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js
index 2311308c41b165..5328689edcbbe2 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/page-list/edit.js
@@ -154,6 +154,9 @@ export default function PageListEdit( {
 				<ServerSideRender
 					block="core/page-list"
 					attributes={ attributesWithParentStatus }
+					EmptyResponsePlaceholder={ () => (
+						<span>{ __( 'Page List: No pages to show.' ) }</span>
+					) }
 				/>
 			</div>
 		</>
diff --git a/packages/block-library/src/page-list/index.php b/packages/block-library/src/page-list/index.php
index 6f99ab14c95ef3..dc1a654d757a07 100644
--- a/packages/block-library/src/page-list/index.php
+++ b/packages/block-library/src/page-list/index.php
@@ -250,6 +250,12 @@ function render_block_core_page_list( $attributes, $content, $block ) {
 		)
 	);
 
+	// If thare are no pages, there is nothing to show.
+	// Return early and empty to trigger EmptyResponsePlaceholder.
+	if ( empty( $all_pages ) ) {
+		return;
+	}
+
 	$top_level_pages = array();
 
 	$pages_with_children = array();