diff --git a/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapStateViews.jsx b/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapStateViews.jsx
index f45addf..cb9817f 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapStateViews.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/maps/LocationMapStateViews.jsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import LocationMapTopbar from "./LocationMapTopbar";
 
-export function LocationMapMessageState({ message, location, status = "Loading", onBack }) {
+export function LocationMapMessageState({ message = "", location, status = "Loading", onBack }) {
   const showTopbar = Boolean(location && onBack);
 
   return (
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ export function LocationMapMessageState({ message, location, status = "Loading",
       <main className="location-map-workspace location-map-message-workspace">
         <section className="location-map-setup location-map-message-card" aria-live="polite">
           <h2>{status}</h2>
-          <p className="location-map-state-message">{message}</p>
+          {message ? <p className="location-map-state-message">{message}</p> : null}
         </section>
       </main>
     </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx b/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx
index a815dd9..a98dc13 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/LocationMapManager.jsx
@@ -344,7 +344,6 @@ export default function LocationMapManager() {
     return (
       <LocationMapMessageState
         status="Select Household"
-        message="Select a household to manage maps."
       />
     );
   }
diff --git a/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts b/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
index 94c947c..02253e2 100644
--- a/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
+++ b/frontend/tests/location-map-manager.spec.ts
@@ -481,8 +481,8 @@ test("map message prompts for a household with compact direct text", async ({ pa
 
   await expect(page.getByRole("heading", { name: "Select Household" })).toBeVisible();
   const messageCard = page.locator(".location-map-message-card");
-  await expect(messageCard.getByText("Select a household to manage maps.")).toBeVisible();
-  await expect(messageCard.locator(".location-map-state-message")).toHaveText("Select a household to manage maps.");
+  await expect(messageCard.getByText("Select a household to manage maps.")).toHaveCount(0);
+  await expect(messageCard.locator(".location-map-state-message")).toHaveCount(0);
   await expect(messageCard.getByRole("group", { name: "Map message details" })).toHaveCount(0);
   await expect(messageCard.locator(".location-map-setup-row", { hasText: "Message" })).toHaveCount(0);
   await expect(messageCard.locator(".location-map-setup-row", { hasText: "Status" })).toHaveCount(0);