diff --git a/tests/orchestration/test_bulk_document_download_orchestrator.py b/tests/orchestration/test_bulk_document_download_orchestrator.py
index b1b48830a..02400e16f 100644
--- a/tests/orchestration/test_bulk_document_download_orchestrator.py
+++ b/tests/orchestration/test_bulk_document_download_orchestrator.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timezone
 import pytest
 from moto import mock_aws
 
+from domain.tasks.subtasks import SubTaskFailure
 from infrastructure.postgres.uploaded_file_table import FileTypeEnum, UploadedFile
 from infrastructure.s3.s3_client import S3Client
 from orchestration.bulk_document_download_orchestrator import (
@@ -111,3 +112,28 @@ def test_builds_uploads_and_emails_a_download_package(packages: S3Client) -> Non
     to, _subject, body = email.sent[0]
     assert to == "user@example.com"
     assert result.presigned_url in body
+
+
+def test_a_selection_with_no_documents_is_a_recorded_failure(
+    packages: S3Client,
+) -> None:
+    # Arrange — the selection resolves to no packageable documents.
+    email = _RecordingEmail()
+    orchestrator = BulkDocumentDownloadOrchestrator(
+        uploaded_files=_FakeUploadedFiles([]),
+        addresses=_FakeAddresses({}),
+        documents=_FakeDocuments({}),
+        packages=packages,
+        email=email,
+        url_ttl_seconds=3600,
+    )
+
+    # Act / Assert — a recorded SubTask failure, and nobody is emailed an empty
+    # package.
+    with pytest.raises(SubTaskFailure):
+        orchestrator.run(
+            landlord_property_ids=["LP1"],
+            recipient_email="user@example.com",
+            package_name="empty",
+        )
+    assert email.sent == []