diff --git a/datasette/views/special.py b/datasette/views/special.py
index 631b554c..ca155a04 100644
--- a/datasette/views/special.py
+++ b/datasette/views/special.py
@@ -930,44 +930,58 @@ class TablesView(BaseView):
         # Get search query parameter
         q = request.args.get("q", "").strip()
 
-        # Only return matches if there's a non-empty search query
-        if not q:
-            return Response.json({"matches": []})
-
-        # Build SQL LIKE pattern from search terms
-        # Split search terms by whitespace and build pattern: %term1%term2%term3%
-        terms = q.split()
-        pattern = "%" + "%".join(terms) + "%"
-
         # Get SQL for allowed resources using the permission system
         permission_sql, params = await self.ds.allowed_resources_sql(
             action="view-table", actor=request.actor
         )
 
-        # Build query with CTE to filter by search pattern
-        sql = f"""
-        WITH allowed_tables AS (
-            {permission_sql}
-        )
-        SELECT parent, child
-        FROM allowed_tables
-        WHERE child LIKE :pattern COLLATE NOCASE
-        ORDER BY length(child), child
-        """
+        # Build query based on whether we have a search query
+        if q:
+            # Build SQL LIKE pattern from search terms
+            # Split search terms by whitespace and build pattern: %term1%term2%term3%
+            terms = q.split()
+            pattern = "%" + "%".join(terms) + "%"
 
-        # Merge params from permission SQL with our pattern param
-        all_params = {**params, "pattern": pattern}
+            # Build query with CTE to filter by search pattern
+            sql = f"""
+            WITH allowed_tables AS (
+                {permission_sql}
+            )
+            SELECT parent, child
+            FROM allowed_tables
+            WHERE child LIKE :pattern COLLATE NOCASE
+            ORDER BY length(child), child
+            """
+            all_params = {**params, "pattern": pattern}
+        else:
+            # No search query - return all tables, ordered by name
+            # Fetch 101 to detect if we need to truncate
+            sql = f"""
+            WITH allowed_tables AS (
+                {permission_sql}
+            )
+            SELECT parent, child
+            FROM allowed_tables
+            ORDER BY parent, child
+            LIMIT 101
+            """
+            all_params = params
 
         # Execute against internal database
         result = await self.ds.get_internal_database().execute(sql, all_params)
 
-        # Build response
+        # Build response with truncation
+        rows = list(result.rows)
+        truncated = len(rows) > 100
+        if truncated:
+            rows = rows[:100]
+
         matches = [
             {
                 "name": f"{row['parent']}: {row['child']}",
                 "url": self.ds.urls.table(row["parent"], row["child"]),
             }
-            for row in result.rows
+            for row in rows
         ]
 
-        return Response.json({"matches": matches})
+        return Response.json({"matches": matches, "truncated": truncated})
diff --git a/tests/test_tables_endpoint.py b/tests/test_tables_endpoint.py
index 6b29a2f7..e6b821e5 100644
--- a/tests/test_tables_endpoint.py
+++ b/tests/test_tables_endpoint.py
@@ -313,6 +313,50 @@ async def test_tables_endpoint_empty_result(test_ds):
         pm.unregister(plugin, name="test_plugin")
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_tables_endpoint_no_query_returns_all():
+    """Test /-/tables without query parameter returns all tables"""
+    ds = Datasette()
+    await ds.invoke_startup()
+
+    # Add database with a few tables
+    db = ds.add_memory_database("test_db")
+    await db.execute_write("CREATE TABLE users (id INTEGER)")
+    await db.execute_write("CREATE TABLE posts (id INTEGER)")
+    await db.execute_write("CREATE TABLE comments (id INTEGER)")
+    await ds._refresh_schemas()
+
+    # Get all tables without query
+    all_tables = await ds.allowed_resources("view-table", None)
+
+    # Should return all tables with truncated: false
+    assert len(all_tables) >= 3
+    table_names = {f"{t.parent}/{t.child}" for t in all_tables}
+    assert "test_db/users" in table_names
+    assert "test_db/posts" in table_names
+    assert "test_db/comments" in table_names
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_tables_endpoint_truncation():
+    """Test /-/tables truncates at 100 tables and sets truncated flag"""
+    ds = Datasette()
+    await ds.invoke_startup()
+
+    # Create a database with 105 tables
+    db = ds.add_memory_database("big_db")
+    for i in range(105):
+        await db.execute_write(f"CREATE TABLE table_{i:03d} (id INTEGER)")
+    await ds._refresh_schemas()
+
+    # Get all tables - should be truncated
+    all_tables = await ds.allowed_resources("view-table", None)
+    big_db_tables = [t for t in all_tables if t.parent == "big_db"]
+
+    # Should have exactly 105 tables in the database
+    assert len(big_db_tables) == 105
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_tables_endpoint_search_single_term():
     """Test /-/tables?q=user to filter tables matching 'user'"""