diff --git a/modules/media/jsx/uploadForm.js b/modules/media/jsx/uploadForm.js
index 8146f3c2bdd..6ce83d0f2ea 100644
--- a/modules/media/jsx/uploadForm.js
+++ b/modules/media/jsx/uploadForm.js
@@ -110,8 +110,14 @@ class MediaUploadForm extends Component {
                         && this.state.formData.visitLabel ?
       this.state.Data.sessionData[this.state.formData.pscid]
         .instruments[this.state.formData.visitLabel] :
-      {};
-    return (
+          {};
+          const visitErrMsg = visits && visits.length === 0 ?
+            'No visits available for this candidate' :
+            '';
+          const instErrMsg = instruments && instruments.length === 0 ?
+            'No instruments available for this visit' :
+            '';
+          return (
       <div className='row'>
         <div className='col-md-8 col-lg-7'>
           <FormElement
@@ -141,6 +147,7 @@ class MediaUploadForm extends Component {
               name='visitLabel'
               label='Visit Label'
               options={visits}
+              placeholder={visitErrMsg}
               onUserInput={this.setFormData}
               ref='visitLabel'
               required={true}
@@ -151,6 +158,7 @@ class MediaUploadForm extends Component {
               name='instrument'
               label='Instrument'
               options={instruments}
+              placeholder={instErrMsg}
               onUserInput={this.setFormData}
               ref='instrument'
               required={false}