diff --git a/src/blocks/carousel/create-swiper.js b/src/blocks/carousel/create-swiper.js
index b18400e15..1e7262df1 100644
--- a/src/blocks/carousel/create-swiper.js
+++ b/src/blocks/carousel/create-swiper.js
@@ -135,6 +135,9 @@ export default function createSwiper( els, config = {} ) {
 			},
 
 			slideChange() {
+				if ( this.slides.length < 1 ) {
+					return; // No slides, no need to do anything.
+				}
 				const currentSlide = this.slides[ this.activeIndex ];
 
 				deactivateSlide( this.slides[ this.previousIndex ] );
diff --git a/src/blocks/carousel/edit.js b/src/blocks/carousel/edit.js
index 39a891a31..40660d7fc 100644
--- a/src/blocks/carousel/edit.js
+++ b/src/blocks/carousel/edit.js
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class Edit extends Component {
 	initializeSwiper( initialSlide ) {
 		const { latestPosts } = this.props;
 
-		if ( latestPosts && latestPosts.length ) {
+		if ( latestPosts ) {
 			const { aspectRatio, autoplay, delay, slidesPerView } = this.props.attributes;
 			const swiperInstance = createSwiper(
 				{
diff --git a/src/blocks/carousel/view.php b/src/blocks/carousel/view.php
index 667f952a4..372e65fb2 100644
--- a/src/blocks/carousel/view.php
+++ b/src/blocks/carousel/view.php
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ function newspack_blocks_render_block_carousel( $attributes ) {
 
 	$article_query = new WP_Query( Newspack_Blocks::build_articles_query( $attributes, apply_filters( 'newspack_blocks_block_name', 'newspack-blocks/carousel' ) ) );
 	if ( false === $article_query->have_posts() ) {
-		return;
+		return '';
 	}
 
 	$counter = 0;