diff --git a/lms/static/coffee/src/instructor_dashboard/util.coffee b/lms/static/coffee/src/instructor_dashboard/util.coffee
index a9ace5f643..8957af6e78 100644
--- a/lms/static/coffee/src/instructor_dashboard/util.coffee
+++ b/lms/static/coffee/src/instructor_dashboard/util.coffee
@@ -268,7 +268,9 @@ class PendingInstructorTasks
   ### Pending Instructor Tasks Section ####
   constructor: (@$section) ->
     # Currently running tasks
+    @$running_tasks_section = find_and_assert @$section, ".running-tasks-section"
     @$table_running_tasks = find_and_assert @$section, ".running-tasks-table"
+    @$no_tasks_message = find_and_assert @$section, ".no-pending-tasks-message"
 
     # start polling for task list
     # if the list is in the DOM
@@ -287,8 +289,14 @@ class PendingInstructorTasks
       success: (data) =>
         if data.tasks.length
           create_task_list_table @$table_running_tasks, data.tasks
+          @$no_tasks_message.hide()
+          @$running_tasks_section.show()
         else
           console.log "No pending instructor tasks to display"
+          @$running_tasks_section.hide()
+          @$no_tasks_message.empty()
+          @$no_tasks_message.append $('<p>').text gettext("No tasks currently running.")
+          @$no_tasks_message.show()
       error: std_ajax_err => console.error "Error finding pending instructor tasks to display"
     ### /Pending Instructor Tasks Section ####
 
diff --git a/lms/static/sass/course/instructor/_instructor_2.scss b/lms/static/sass/course/instructor/_instructor_2.scss
index c293dbad2b..1a266be8fc 100644
--- a/lms/static/sass/course/instructor/_instructor_2.scss
+++ b/lms/static/sass/course/instructor/_instructor_2.scss
@@ -224,6 +224,18 @@ section.instructor-dashboard-content-2 {
     .basic-data {
       padding: 6px;
     }
+
+    .running-tasks-section {
+      display: none;
+    }
+
+    .no-pending-tasks-message {
+      display: none;
+      p {
+        color: #a2a2a2;
+        font-style: italic;
+      }
+    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/course_info.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/course_info.html
index c27119fb60..3e00ebf5bb 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/course_info.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/course_info.html
@@ -76,10 +76,13 @@
   <div class="running-tasks-container action-type-container">
     <hr>
     <h2> ${_("Pending Instructor Tasks")} </h2>
-    <p>${_("The status for any active tasks appears in a table below.")} </p>
-    <br />
+    <div class="running-tasks-section">
+      <p>${_("The status for any active tasks appears in a table below.")} </p>
+      <br />
 
-    <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+      <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="no-pending-tasks-message"></div>
   </div>
 
 %endif
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/data_download.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/data_download.html
index a3ce752df6..b931e93855 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/data_download.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/data_download.html
@@ -69,8 +69,11 @@
   <div class="running-tasks-container action-type-container">
     <hr>
     <h2> ${_("Pending Instructor Tasks")} </h2>
-    <p>${_("The status for any active tasks appears in a table below.")} </p>
-    <br />
-    <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+    <div class="running-tasks-section">
+      <p>${_("The status for any active tasks appears in a table below.")} </p>
+      <br />
+      <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="no-pending-tasks-message"></div>
   </div>
 %endif
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/send_email.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/send_email.html
index b44c87bc6c..54471cfd15 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/send_email.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/send_email.html
@@ -59,10 +59,13 @@
   <div class="running-tasks-container action-type-container">
     <hr>
     <h2> ${_("Pending Instructor Tasks")} </h2>
-    <p>${_("Email actions run in the background. The status for any active tasks - including email tasks - appears in a table below.")} </p>
-    <br />
+    <div class="running-tasks-section">
+      <p>${_("Email actions run in the background. The status for any active tasks - including email tasks - appears in a table below.")} </p>
+      <br />
 
-    <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+      <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="no-pending-tasks-message"></div>
   </div>
 
 
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html
index 6e4bd3a879..c10c1c2384 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/student_admin.html
@@ -117,10 +117,13 @@
   <div class="running-tasks-container action-type-container">
     <hr>
     <h2> ${_("Pending Instructor Tasks")} </h2>
-    <p>${_("The status for any active tasks appears in a table below.")} </p>
-    <br />
+    <div class="running-tasks-section">
+      <p>${_("The status for any active tasks appears in a table below.")} </p>
+      <br />
 
-    <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+      <div class="running-tasks-table" data-endpoint="${ section_data['list_instructor_tasks_url'] }"></div>
+    </div>
+    <div class="no-pending-tasks-message"></div>
   </div>
 
 %endif