diff --git a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/smart-inventory/smart-inventory-host-filter/host-filter-modal/host-filter-modal.directive.js b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/smart-inventory/smart-inventory-host-filter/host-filter-modal/host-filter-modal.directive.js
index caad82cc41..56998865da 100644
--- a/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/smart-inventory/smart-inventory-host-filter/host-filter-modal/host-filter-modal.directive.js
+++ b/awx/ui/client/src/inventories-hosts/inventories/smart-inventory/smart-inventory-host-filter/host-filter-modal/host-filter-modal.directive.js
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ export default ['templateUrl', function(templateUrl) {
                         hostList.well = false;
                         delete hostList.fields.inventory.ngClick;
                         hostList.fields.inventory.ngBind = 'host.summary_fields.inventory.name';
+                        hostList.emptyListText = 'You must have access to at least one host in order to create a smart inventory host filter';
                         let html = GenerateList.build({
                             list: hostList,
                             input_type: 'host-filter-modal-body',