diff --git a/layouts/index.gmi b/layouts/index.gmi
index ca63f5e5..d1411f09 100644
--- a/layouts/index.gmi
+++ b/layouts/index.gmi
@@ -27,7 +27,10 @@ Get in touch if you'd like to go to these, or any other events⁺, together!
 => {{ partial "noindex.gmi" (index $upcomingEvents 1).Page.RelPermalink }} {{ (index $upcomingEvents 1).Title }}
 
 => /calendar/ 🗓️ My events calendar
-{{ end }}
+{{- else }}
+Looks like I've not added any events to my blog recently — I'm sure I'd appreciate a recommendation from you!
+{{- end }}
+
 {{ with (partial "latest-non-reply-note.obj") }}## A recent note
 📅 {{ .Page.Date.Format "January 2, 2006 — 15:04 (MST)" }}
 
diff --git a/layouts/partials/post-previews.html b/layouts/partials/post-previews.html
index 6dfc9544..a71b0a9a 100644
--- a/layouts/partials/post-previews.html
+++ b/layouts/partials/post-previews.html
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@
   <p class="post-content">{{ partial "svg.html" (dict "name" "document") }} Check out <a href="/posts">all my longer posts</a>, or read through my <a href="/bookmarks">thoughts on others' writing</a>.</p>
 
   {{- $upcomingEvents := partial "upcoming-events.obj" }}
-  {{ $upcomingEvents }}
   {{ if ge (len $upcomingEvents) 2 }}
   <hr class="mini" />
   <p class="post-content">