diff --git a/senju/haiku.py b/senju/haiku.py
index 66d5348..f117a5f 100644
--- a/senju/haiku.py
+++ b/senju/haiku.py
@@ -59,3 +59,7 @@ class Haiku:
                 continue
 
         return haiku
+
+
+DEFAULT_HAIKU: Haiku = Haiku(["Purple petals rise", "Defying fragile beauty",
+                              "Fiercely breathing life"])
diff --git a/senju/main.py b/senju/main.py
index fd2e795..4f16689 100644
--- a/senju/main.py
+++ b/senju/main.py
@@ -24,20 +24,18 @@ def index_view():
 def haiku_index_view():
     haiku_id: int | None = store.get_id_of_latest_haiku()
     if haiku_id is None:
-        # TODO: add "empty haiku list" error page
-        raise KeyError("no haiku exist yet")
-    return redirect(url_for("haiku_view", haiku_id=haiku_id))
+        haiku_id = 0
+    return redirect(url_for("haiku_view", haiku_id=haiku_id, is_default=1))
 
 
 @app.route("/haiku/<int:haiku_id>")
 def haiku_view(haiku_id):
     """test"""
-    haiku: Haiku | None = store.load_haiku(haiku_id)
-    if haiku is None:
-        # TODO: add "haiku not found" page
-        raise KeyError("haiku not found")
+    is_default: bool = request.args.get("is_default") == "1"
+    haiku: Haiku = store.load_haiku(haiku_id)
     context: dict = {
-        "haiku": haiku
+        "haiku": haiku,
+        "is_default": is_default
     }
 
     return render_template(
diff --git a/senju/store_manager.py b/senju/store_manager.py
index e99b98e..493ad29 100644
--- a/senju/store_manager.py
+++ b/senju/store_manager.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from typing import Optional
 from tinydb import TinyDB
 from tinydb.queries import QueryImpl
 
-from senju.haiku import Haiku
+from senju.haiku import DEFAULT_HAIKU, Haiku
 
 DEFAULT_DB_PATH: Path = Path("/var/lib/senju.json")
 
@@ -34,10 +34,12 @@ class StoreManager:
     def _save(self, data: dict) -> int:
         return self._db.insert(data)
 
-    def load_haiku(self, key: int) -> Optional[Haiku]:
+    def load_haiku(self, key: Optional[int]) -> Haiku:
+        if key is None:
+            return DEFAULT_HAIKU
         raw_haiku: dict | None = self._load(key)
         if raw_haiku is None:
-            return None
+            return DEFAULT_HAIKU
         h = Haiku(**raw_haiku)
         return h
 
diff --git a/senju/templates/haiku.html b/senju/templates/haiku.html
index 844dfff..c3d4382 100644
--- a/senju/templates/haiku.html
+++ b/senju/templates/haiku.html
@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@
 				{% endfor %}
 			</p>
 		</div>
+		{% if context.is_default %}
+		<div class="mb-5">
+			<b>Note:</b> No haikus have been found in the haiku store.
+		</div>
+		{% endif %}
 		<a href="{{ url_for('index_view') }}"
 			class=" inline-block bg-violet-600 hover:bg-violet-700 text-white font-bold py-2 px-4 rounded-lg">
 			Back to Home
diff --git a/tests/test_store.py b/tests/test_store.py
index dc770c7..ac8aac4 100644
--- a/tests/test_store.py
+++ b/tests/test_store.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 
 import pytest  # noqa: F401
 
-from senju.haiku import Haiku
+from senju.haiku import DEFAULT_HAIKU, Haiku
 from senju.store_manager import StoreManager  # noqa: F401
 
 
@@ -36,9 +36,25 @@ def test_save_and_load_haiku(store_manager: StoreManager):
             but should have"
 
     assert h == h_loaded
+    assert h != DEFAULT_HAIKU
 
 
 def test_load_latest_with_empty_store(temp_data_dir):
     store = StoreManager(temp_data_dir / "empty_store.json")
     h = store.get_id_of_latest_haiku()
     assert h is None
+
+
+def test_load_latest_or_default_with_empty(temp_data_dir):
+    store = StoreManager(temp_data_dir / "load_or_default_empty.json")
+    haiku = store.load_haiku(store.get_id_of_latest_haiku())
+    assert haiku == DEFAULT_HAIKU
+
+
+def test_load_latest_or_default_with_non_empty(temp_data_dir):
+    store = StoreManager(temp_data_dir / "load_or_default_not_empty.json")
+    nonsense_test_haiku = Haiku(["nonsense", "test", "haiku"])
+    store.save_haiku(nonsense_test_haiku)
+    haiku = store.load_haiku(store.get_id_of_latest_haiku())
+    assert haiku != DEFAULT_HAIKU
+    assert haiku == nonsense_test_haiku