diff --git a/src/aind_qc_portal/panel/quality_control.py b/src/aind_qc_portal/panel/quality_control.py
index 7758bae..8e31b21 100644
--- a/src/aind_qc_portal/panel/quality_control.py
+++ b/src/aind_qc_portal/panel/quality_control.py
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def panel(self):
 
         state_md = f"""
 <span style="font-size:14pt">Current state:</span>
-<span style="font-size:12pt">Status: **{status_html(self._data.status)}**</span>
+<span style="font-size:12pt">Status: **{status_html(self._data.status) if self._has_data else ""}**</span>
 <span style="font-size:12pt">Contains {len(self.evaluations)} evaluations. {failing_eval_str}</span>
 """