diff --git a/styles/elements/_sidenav.scss b/styles/elements/_sidenav.scss
index 57e4d1f1..ccd11dc5 100644
--- a/styles/elements/_sidenav.scss
+++ b/styles/elements/_sidenav.scss
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@
       margin-bottom: $gap;
     }
 
+    .sidenav__text {
+      margin: 2 * $gap;
+      color: $color-gray;
+      font-style: italic;
+    }
+
     .sidenav__link {
       display: block;
       padding: $gap ($gap * 2);
@@ -131,7 +137,6 @@
       }
 
       + ul {
-        // padding-bottom: $gap / 2;
 
         li {
           .sidenav__link {
diff --git a/templates/navigation/global_sidenav.html b/templates/navigation/global_sidenav.html
index 98248ea9..c3f51657 100644
--- a/templates/navigation/global_sidenav.html
+++ b/templates/navigation/global_sidenav.html
@@ -18,12 +18,16 @@
       <div v-if="props.isVisible">
         <div class="sidenav__title">Portfolios</div>
         <ul class="sidenav__list--padded">
-          {% for other_portfolio in portfolios|sort(attribute='name') %}
-            {{ SidenavItem(other_portfolio.name,
-              href=url_for("portfolios.show_portfolio", portfolio_id=other_portfolio.id),
-              active=(other_portfolio.id | string) == request.view_args.get('portfolio_id')
-              ) }}
-          {% endfor %}
+          {% if portfolios %}
+            {% for other_portfolio in portfolios|sort(attribute='name') %}
+              {{ SidenavItem(other_portfolio.name,
+                href=url_for("portfolios.show_portfolio", portfolio_id=other_portfolio.id),
+                active=(other_portfolio.id | string) == request.view_args.get('portfolio_id')
+                ) }}
+            {% endfor %}
+          {% else %}
+            <li><span class="sidenav__text">You have no portfolios yet</span></li>
+          {% endif %}
         </ul>
         <div class="sidenav__divider--small"></div>
         <a class="sidenav__link sidenav__link--add" href="{{ url_for("task_orders.get_started") }}" title="Fund a New Portfolio">
diff --git a/templates/portfolios/blank_slate.html b/templates/portfolios/blank_slate.html
index 3b45b92c..1c178f0a 100644
--- a/templates/portfolios/blank_slate.html
+++ b/templates/portfolios/blank_slate.html
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 {% block content %}
   {{
     EmptyState(
-      action_href=url_for("task_orders.new", screen=1),
+      action_href=url_for("task_orders.get_started"),
       action_label=("portfolios.index.empty.start_button" | translate),
       icon="cloud",
       message=("portfolios.index.empty.title" | translate),