diff --git a/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py b/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py
index 51faae2..9857d1b 100644
--- a/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py
+++ b/dzgui/controllers/emitter.py
@@ -124,8 +124,14 @@ class Emitter(GObject.GObject):
     def load_maps(self, store: ListStore) -> None:
         pass
 
-    @GObject.Signal(flags=GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_LAST, arg_types=(str,))
-    def mods_updated(self, msg: str) -> None:
+    @GObject.Signal(
+        flags=GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_LAST,
+        arg_types=(
+            str,
+            int,
+        ),
+    )
+    def mods_updated(self, msg: str, mods: int) -> None:
         pass
 
     @GObject.Signal(flags=GObject.SignalFlags.RUN_LAST, arg_types=())
diff --git a/dzgui/views/components/mod_panel.py b/dzgui/views/components/mod_panel.py
index 951c641..76298a6 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/components/mod_panel.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/components/mod_panel.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ class ModSelectionPanel(Gtk.Box):
         emitter = controller.get_emitter()
         emitter.connect("mod_page_toggled", self._on_mod_page_toggled)
         emitter.connect("mods_highlighted", self._on_mods_highlighted)
+        emitter.connect("mods_updated", self._on_mods_updated)
 
         header = BoldLabel(mod_panel.header)
 
@@ -72,6 +73,11 @@ class ModSelectionPanel(Gtk.Box):
             else:
                 child.set_sensitive(True)
 
+    def _on_mods_updated(self, emitter: "Emitter", msg: str, mods: int) -> None:
+        if mods < 1:
+            self.main_panel.set_sensitive(False)
+            self.stale_panel.set_sensitive(False)
+
     def _on_mods_highlighted(self, emitter: "Emitter") -> None:
         self.swap_sensitive(True)
 
diff --git a/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py b/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py
index 7533cb5..bd1df36 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/components/statusbar.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Statusbar(Gtk.Grid):
         # FIXME: fails if button was not previously drawn
         self.alert_button.hide()
 
-    def _on_mods_updated(self, emitter: "Emitter", msg: str) -> None:
+    def _on_mods_updated(self, emitter: "Emitter", msg: str, mods: int) -> None:
         self.set_by_context(NotebookPage.MODS, msg)
 
     def _on_notebook_page_changed(
diff --git a/dzgui/views/trees/tree_mods.py b/dzgui/views/trees/tree_mods.py
index 993ee40..8067343 100644
--- a/dzgui/views/trees/tree_mods.py
+++ b/dzgui/views/trees/tree_mods.py
@@ -61,8 +61,9 @@ class ModTreeView(ModsMixin, ContextMixin, TreeView):
     def _on_mods_highlighted(self, emitter: "Emitter") -> None:
         self.get_selection().unselect_all()
 
-    # TODO: test loading with no mods
-    def _on_mods_updated(self, emitter: "Emitter", msg: str) -> None:
+    def _on_mods_updated(self, emitter: "Emitter", msg: str, mods: int) -> None:
+        if mods < 1:
+            return
         self.set_cursor(0)
 
     def get_selected_mod(self) -> str: