diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 34b7098..77a9f31 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 
 ### Fixed
 
+- A feed whose address answers with nothing, as a lapsed domain does behind a DNS filter's block page, shows as failing, with what to do about it, instead of as a show that has not posted yet.
 - On Postgres, a write no longer waits for the database server's disk. A scan read about one feed a second and now reads 1,500 in 20 seconds.
 - Checking every feed no longer makes every icon in the feed list flash while it runs: the list keeps the icons it has already drawn.
 
diff --git a/src/feed.rs b/src/feed.rs
index a356288..6d4e285 100644
--- a/src/feed.rs
+++ b/src/feed.rs
@@ -190,6 +190,9 @@ pub fn explain_failure(msg: &str) -> Option<Failure> {
     if low.contains("http 401") || low.contains("http 403") {
         return Some(Failure { reason: "The site refuses ipx's requests.", new_url: None });
     }
+    if low.contains("answered with nothing") {
+        return Some(Failure { reason: "This address answers with nothing; the site may be gone.", new_url: None });
+    }
     if low.contains("http 402") {
         return Some(Failure { reason: "The feed now needs a paid plan.", new_url: None });
     }
@@ -1310,6 +1313,10 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(explain_failure("HTTP 401 Unauthorized").unwrap().reason, "The site refuses ipx's requests.");
         assert_eq!(explain_failure("HTTP 403 Forbidden").unwrap().reason, "The site refuses ipx's requests.");
         assert_eq!(explain_failure("HTTP 402 Payment Required").unwrap().reason, "The feed now needs a paid plan.");
+        assert_eq!(
+            explain_failure("the feed's address answered with nothing at all").unwrap().reason,
+            "This address answers with nothing; the site may be gone."
+        );
         let dns = explain_failure("connecting: dns error: failed to lookup address information").unwrap();
         assert_eq!(dns.reason, "This address no longer resolves; the site is gone.");
         let moved = explain_failure("got a web page, not a feed; it links https://x/feed as its feed").unwrap();
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index bdff3e9..3701f00 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -1455,6 +1455,13 @@ async fn scan_one(
     };
 
     if bytes.iter().all(u8::is_ascii_whitespace) {
+        // From a feed that has published, nothing new, said badly (see Outcome::Empty). From one
+        // that has never stored an item, a feed that is not there: a lapsed domain behind a DNS
+        // filter's block page answers 200 and nothing, and looked like a show that had not
+        // posted yet, with no error to act on (#119). The next real read clears it.
+        if stored.entries == 0 {
+            anyhow::bail!("the feed's address answered with nothing at all");
+        }
         ctx.db.touch_feed(id, &feed_cfg.url).await?;
         return Ok(Outcome::Empty);
     }
@@ -2248,6 +2255,43 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Answers /empty with a 200 and nothing, anything else with a feed of one item.
+    async fn empty_or_feed_server() -> String {
+        use tokio::io::{AsyncReadExt, AsyncWriteExt};
+        let listener = tokio::net::TcpListener::bind("127.0.0.1:0").await.unwrap();
+        let addr = listener.local_addr().unwrap();
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            loop {
+                let Ok((mut sock, _)) = listener.accept().await else { return };
+                tokio::spawn(async move {
+                    let mut buf = [0u8; 2048];
+                    let n = sock.read(&mut buf).await.unwrap_or(0);
+                    let empty = String::from_utf8_lossy(&buf[..n]).starts_with("GET /empty");
+                    let body = if empty { "\n" } else {
+                        "<?xml version=\"1.0\"?><rss version=\"2.0\"><channel><title>T</title><item><title>One</title><guid>g1</guid></item></channel></rss>"
+                    };
+                    let resp = format!("HTTP/1.1 200 OK\r\nContent-Length: {}\r\n\r\n{body}", body.len());
+                    let _ = sock.write_all(resp.as_bytes()).await;
+                });
+            }
+        });
+        format!("http://{addr}")
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn nothing_from_a_feed_that_never_posted_is_an_error_and_from_one_that_has_is_not() {
+        let base = empty_or_feed_server().await;
+        let ctx = Arc::new(test_ctx(config::Config::default()).await);
+        let at = |path: &str| config::Feed { url: format!("{base}{path}"), ..feed() };
+        let none = db::HttpState::default();
+        // A lapsed domain behind a block page: never an item, and nothing (#119).
+        let err = scan_one(&ctx, "gone", &at("/empty"), &none, false, None).await.err().expect("an error");
+        assert!(format!("{err:#}").contains("answered with nothing"), "{err:#}");
+        // A feed that has posted answering nothing has nothing new, as the Antarctic Survey does.
+        assert!(matches!(scan_one(&ctx, "quiet", &at("/feed"), &none, false, None).await, Ok(Outcome::Feed(_))));
+        assert!(matches!(scan_one(&ctx, "quiet", &at("/empty"), &none, false, None).await, Ok(Outcome::Empty)));
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn a_derived_feed_is_not_scanned_once_its_opml_leaves_config() {
         // davewiner: the OPML subscription left config.toml, but its 922 derived rows