diff --git a/emacs/notmuch-tag.el b/emacs/notmuch-tag.el
index 07c260eb..f54aa9d6 100644
--- a/emacs/notmuch-tag.el
+++ b/emacs/notmuch-tag.el
@@ -387,6 +387,8 @@ notmuch-after-tag-hook will be run."
 	  (unless (string-match-p "^[-+]\\S-+$" tag-change)
 	    (error "Tag must be of the form `+this_tag' or `-that_tag'")))
 	tag-changes)
+  (unless query
+    (error "Nothing to tag!"))
   (unless (null tag-changes)
     (run-hooks 'notmuch-before-tag-hook)
     (if (<= (length query) notmuch-tag-argument-limit)
diff --git a/emacs/notmuch.el b/emacs/notmuch.el
index 6c0bc1bc..1adea9c2 100644
--- a/emacs/notmuch.el
+++ b/emacs/notmuch.el
@@ -428,14 +428,16 @@ matched and unmatched messages in the current thread."
   "Return the stable query for the current region.
 
 If ONLY-MATCHED is non-nil, include only matched messages.  If it
-is nil, include both matched and unmatched messages."
+is nil, include both matched and unmatched messages. If there are
+no messages in the region then return nil."
   (let ((query-list nil) (all (not only-matched)))
     (dolist (queries (notmuch-search-properties-in-region :query beg end))
       (when (first queries)
 	(push (first queries) query-list))
       (when (and all (second queries))
 	(push (second queries) query-list)))
-    (concat "(" (mapconcat 'identity query-list ") or (") ")")))
+    (when query-list
+      (concat "(" (mapconcat 'identity query-list ") or (") ")"))))
 
 (defun notmuch-search-find-authors ()
   "Return the authors for the current thread"