diff --git a/bookwyrm/templates/shelf/shelf.html b/bookwyrm/templates/shelf/shelf.html
index 60b822322..d224b0a4f 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/templates/shelf/shelf.html
+++ b/bookwyrm/templates/shelf/shelf.html
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@
                         (showing {{ start }}-{{ end }})
                         {% endblocktrans %}
                     {% endif %}
-                    {% if shelves_filter_msg %}
-                        - {{ shelves_filter_msg }} "{{ shelves_filter_query }}"
+                    {% if show_shelves_filter_msg %}
+                        - {% trans "We couldn't find any books that matched" %} "{{ shelves_filter_query }}"
                     {% endif %}
                 </span>
                 {% endif %}
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf.py b/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf.py
index 2b9ab176a..eae57b409 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/shelf/shelf.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ class Shelf(View):
             shelves = models.Shelf.privacy_filter(request.user).filter(user=user).all()
 
         shelves_filter_query = request.GET.get("filter")
-        shelves_filter_msg = ""
+        show_shelves_filter_msg = False
 
         # get the shelf and make sure the logged in user should be able to see it
         if shelf_identifier:
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class Shelf(View):
 
         if shelves_filter_query:
             books = search(shelves_filter_query, books=books) or books
-            shelves_filter_msg = "We couldn't find any books that matched"
+            show_shelves_filter_msg = True
 
         paginated = Paginator(
             books,
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class Shelf(View):
                 page.number, on_each_side=2, on_ends=1
             ),
             "shelves_filter_query": shelves_filter_query,
-            "shelves_filter_msg": shelves_filter_msg,
+            "show_shelves_filter_msg": show_shelves_filter_msg,
         }
 
         return TemplateResponse(request, "shelf/shelf.html", data)