diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 4a32bd8..4c398a2 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ View the [plugin documentation](http://plugins.krajee.com/dependent-dropdown) an
   ```
   {group-name: {id: <option-value>, name: <option-name>}}
   ```
+  
+  When no data is available for a specific situation (like an backend error), you can send a custom emptyMsg
+
+  ```
+   {emptyMsg: '<your message>'}
+  ```
 
 ## Installation
 
@@ -350,4 +356,4 @@ $('#input-id').depdrop('init');
 
 ## License
 
-**dependent-dropdown** is released under the BSD 3-Clause License. See the bundled `LICENSE.md` for details.
\ No newline at end of file
+**dependent-dropdown** is released under the BSD 3-Clause License. See the bundled `LICENSE.md` for details.
diff --git a/js/dependent-dropdown.js b/js/dependent-dropdown.js
index e1624ce..d84503b 100644
--- a/js/dependent-dropdown.js
+++ b/js/dependent-dropdown.js
@@ -120,20 +120,22 @@
                 },
                 success: function (data) {
                     selected = isEmpty(data.selected) ? (self.initVal === false ? null : self.initVal): data.selected;
-                    if (isEmpty(data)) {
-                        addOption($el, '', vNullMsg, '');
+                    if (!isEmpty(data.emptyMsg)) {
+                        vNullMsg = data.emptyMsg;
+                    }
+                    if (isEmpty(data) || isEmpty(data.output) || Object.keys(data.output).length == 0) {
+                        $el.html('');
+                        addOption($el, 0, vNullMsg, '');
                     }
                     else {
                         $el.html(self.getSelect(data.output, vDefault, selected));
                         if ($el.find('optgroup').length > 0) {
                             $el.find('option[value=""]').attr('disabled', 'disabled');
                         }
-                        if (data.output) {
-                            if (selected && $.isArray(selected) && $el.attr('multiple')) {
-                                $el.val(selected);
-                            }
-                            $el.removeAttr('disabled');
+                        if (selected && $.isArray(selected) && $el.attr('multiple')) {
+                            $el.val(selected);
                         }
+                        $el.removeAttr('disabled');
                     }
                     optCount = $el.find('option').length;
                     if ($el.find('option[value=""]').length > 0) {
@@ -220,4 +222,4 @@
     $(function () {
         $('select.depdrop').depdrop();
     });
-}(window.jQuery));
\ No newline at end of file
+}(window.jQuery));