diff --git a/jrnl/jrnl.py b/jrnl/jrnl.py
index 439237c6..43800ddf 100644
--- a/jrnl/jrnl.py
+++ b/jrnl/jrnl.py
@@ -339,6 +339,9 @@ def _delete_search_results(journal, old_entries, **kwargs):
 
 
 def _change_time_search_results(args, journal, old_entries, **kwargs):
+    if not journal.entries:
+        raise JrnlException(Message(MsgText.NothingToModify, MsgType.WARNING))
+
     # separate entries we are not editing
     other_entries = _other_entries(journal, old_entries)
 
diff --git a/jrnl/messages.py b/jrnl/messages.py
index e6a1933a..7e7bc205 100644
--- a/jrnl/messages.py
+++ b/jrnl/messages.py
@@ -130,6 +130,10 @@ class MsgText(Enum):
         No entries to delete, because the search returned no results
         """
 
+    NothingToModify = """
+        No entries to modify, because the search returned no results
+        """
+
 
 class Message(NamedTuple):
     text: MsgText
diff --git a/tests/bdd/features/change_time.feature b/tests/bdd/features/change_time.feature
index a4fdb403..3379fe70 100644
--- a/tests/bdd/features/change_time.feature
+++ b/tests/bdd/features/change_time.feature
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Feature: Change entry times in journal
     Scenario Outline: Change time flag with nonsense input changes nothing
         Given we use the config "<config_file>"
         When we run "jrnl --change-time now asdfasdf"
+        Then the output should contain "No entries to modify"
         When we run "jrnl -99 --short"
         Then the output should be
             2020-08-29 11:11 Entry the first.