diff --git a/datasette/static/datasette-manager.js b/datasette/static/datasette-manager.js
index 6ca12901..d3399ae6 100644
--- a/datasette/static/datasette-manager.js
+++ b/datasette/static/datasette-manager.js
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ const datasetteManager = {
   renderAboveTablePanel: () => {
 
     const aboveTablePanel = document.querySelector(DOM_SELECTORS.aboveTablePanel);
+
+    if (!aboveTablePanel) {
+      console.warn('This page does not have a table, the renderAboveTablePanel cannot be used.');
+    }
+
     let aboveTablePanelWrapper = aboveTablePanel.querySelector('.panels');
 
     // First render: create wrappers. Otherwise, reuse previous.