diff --git a/src/tools/queries/media.js b/src/tools/queries/media.js
index 675ef2a27..f866c9c86 100644
--- a/src/tools/queries/media.js
+++ b/src/tools/queries/media.js
@@ -92,7 +92,11 @@ export const findCctvCameras = defineTool({
       .sort((a, b) => a.distance_km - b.distance_km);
     return {
       summary:
-        `${countNoun(rows.length, 'public camera')} in ${area.label}` +
+        (rows.length || trimmed.length
+          ? `${countNoun(rows.length, 'public camera')} in ${area.label}`
+          : // The catalog covers selected regions; an empty answer elsewhere
+            // means it has no cameras there, not that none exist.
+            `The camera catalog has no cameras in ${area.label}`) +
         (trimmed.length
           ? ` (the catalog serves only some cameras here: ${trimmed
               .map(
diff --git a/src/tools/queries/media.test.mjs b/src/tools/queries/media.test.mjs
index d7d014df7..a024191e7 100644
--- a/src/tools/queries/media.test.mjs
+++ b/src/tools/queries/media.test.mjs
@@ -321,4 +321,8 @@ test('an area the catalog trimmed away entirely is not reported complete', async
     area: { lat: 40.7, lon: -74, radius_km: 3 },
   });
   assert.equal(elsewhere.data.complete, true);
+  assert.equal(
+    elsewhere.summary,
+    'The camera catalog has no cameras in 3 km around 40.700, -74.000.',
+  );
 });