diff --git a/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/slopeCharts/SlopeChart.tsx b/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/slopeCharts/SlopeChart.tsx
index bdd4b3efabc..7dc29b809e7 100644
--- a/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/slopeCharts/SlopeChart.tsx
+++ b/packages/@ourworldindata/grapher/src/slopeCharts/SlopeChart.tsx
@@ -260,6 +260,7 @@ export class SlopeChart
     @computed get failMessage() {
         const message = getDefaultFailMessage(this.manager)
         if (message) return message
+        else if (this.startTime === this.endTime) return "No matching data"
         else if (isEmpty(this.series)) return "No matching data"
         return ""
     }