diff --git a/datasette/templates/query.html b/datasette/templates/query.html
index 1900bd31..785b05af 100644
--- a/datasette/templates/query.html
+++ b/datasette/templates/query.html
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@
     {% if not hide_sql %}
         {% if editable and allow_execute_sql %}
             <p class="sql-editor"><textarea id="sql-editor" name="sql"{% if query and query.sql %} style="height: {{ query.sql.split("\n")|length + 2 }}em"{% endif %}
-            >{% if query and query.sql %}{{ query.sql }}{% else %}select * from {{ tables[0].name|escape_sqlite }}{% endif %}</textarea></p>
+            >{% if query and query.sql %}{{ query.sql }}{% elif tables %}select * from {{ tables[0].name|escape_sqlite }}{% endif %}</textarea></p>
         {% else %}
             <pre id="sql-query">{% if query %}{{ query.sql }}{% endif %}</pre>
         {% endif %}
     {% else %}
         {% if not canned_query %}
             <input type="hidden" name="sql"
-                value="{% if query and query.sql %}{{ query.sql }}{% else %}select * from {{ tables[0].name|escape_sqlite }}{% endif %}"
+                value="{% if query and query.sql %}{{ query.sql }}{% elif tables %}select * from {{ tables[0].name|escape_sqlite }}{% endif %}"
             >
         {% endif %}
     {% endif %}
diff --git a/datasette/views/database.py b/datasette/views/database.py
index aafcf40b..feb38619 100644
--- a/datasette/views/database.py
+++ b/datasette/views/database.py
@@ -1776,7 +1776,7 @@ class QueryView(View):
         named_parameters = []
         if canned_query and canned_query.get("params"):
             named_parameters = canned_query["params"]
-        if not named_parameters:
+        if not named_parameters and sql:
             named_parameters = derive_named_parameters(sql)
         named_parameter_values = {
             named_parameter: params.get(named_parameter) or ""
@@ -1801,7 +1801,7 @@ class QueryView(View):
 
         params_for_query = params
 
-        if not canned_query_write:
+        if sql and not canned_query_write:
             try:
                 if not canned_query:
                     # For regular queries we only allow SELECT, plus other rules
@@ -1845,6 +1845,8 @@ class QueryView(View):
 
         # Handle formats from plugins
         if format_ == "csv":
+            if not sql:
+                raise DatasetteError("?sql= is required", status=400)
 
             async def fetch_data_for_csv(request, _next=None):
                 results = await db.execute(sql, params, truncate=True)
@@ -1978,25 +1980,26 @@ class QueryView(View):
             # - No magic parameters, so no :_ in the SQL string
             edit_sql_url = None
             is_validated_sql = False
-            try:
-                validate_sql_select(sql)
-                is_validated_sql = True
-            except InvalidSql:
-                pass
-            if allow_execute_sql and is_validated_sql and ":_" not in sql:
-                edit_sql_url = (
-                    datasette.urls.database(database)
-                    + "/-/query"
-                    + "?"
-                    + urlencode(
-                        {
-                            **{
-                                "sql": sql,
-                            },
-                            **named_parameter_values,
-                        }
+            if sql:
+                try:
+                    validate_sql_select(sql)
+                    is_validated_sql = True
+                except InvalidSql:
+                    pass
+                if allow_execute_sql and is_validated_sql and ":_" not in sql:
+                    edit_sql_url = (
+                        datasette.urls.database(database)
+                        + "/-/query"
+                        + "?"
+                        + urlencode(
+                            {
+                                **{
+                                    "sql": sql,
+                                },
+                                **named_parameter_values,
+                            }
+                        )
                     )
-                )
             save_query_url = None
             if (
                 not canned_query
diff --git a/docs/changelog.rst b/docs/changelog.rst
index 329b4769..dfb2a736 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.rst
+++ b/docs/changelog.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+.. _v1_0_unreleased:
+
+Unreleased
+----------
+
+- Fixed a bug where visiting ``/<database>/-/query`` without a ``?sql=`` parameter returned a 500 error. (:issue:`2743`)
+
 .. _v1_0_a30:
 
 1.0a30 (2026-05-24)
diff --git a/tests/plugins/my_plugin.py b/tests/plugins/my_plugin.py
index 1dd9ed3e..1d2378b4 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/my_plugin.py
+++ b/tests/plugins/my_plugin.py
@@ -382,8 +382,8 @@ def view_actions(datasette, database, view, actor):
 
 @hookimpl
 def query_actions(datasette, database, query_name, sql):
-    # Don't explain an explain
-    if sql.lower().startswith("explain"):
+    # Don't explain an explain (or a missing query)
+    if not sql or sql.lower().startswith("explain"):
         return
     return [
         {
diff --git a/tests/test_html.py b/tests/test_html.py
index 8cda6dba..9e460da1 100644
--- a/tests/test_html.py
+++ b/tests/test_html.py
@@ -239,6 +239,22 @@ def test_query_page_truncates():
         ]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_query_page_with_no_sql(ds_client):
+    # https://github.com/simonw/datasette/issues/2743
+    response = await ds_client.get("/fixtures/-/query")
+    assert response.status_code == 200
+    assert '<textarea id="sql-editor" name="sql"' in response.text
+    assert 'class="rows-and-columns"' not in response.text
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_query_csv_with_no_sql_is_400(ds_client):
+    # https://github.com/simonw/datasette/issues/2743
+    response = await ds_client.get("/fixtures/-/query.csv")
+    assert response.status_code == 400
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "path,expected_classes",