diff --git a/design/hide-backlinks-empty.pen b/design/hide-backlinks-empty.pen
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ae27a8df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/design/hide-backlinks-empty.pen
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+{
+  "children": [
+    {
+      "type": "frame",
+      "id": "hideBacklinksEmpty_before",
+      "x": 0,
+      "y": 0,
+      "name": "Hide Empty Backlinks Label — Before (shows No backlinks label)",
+      "width": 280,
+      "height": 80,
+      "fill": "#ffffff",
+      "gap": 4,
+      "padding": 12,
+      "alignItems": "flex-start",
+      "children": [
+        {
+          "type": "text",
+          "id": "bl_header_before",
+          "name": "section-header",
+          "fill": "#6b7280",
+          "content": "Backlinks",
+          "fontFamily": "Inter",
+          "fontSize": 10,
+          "fontWeight": "600",
+          "letterSpacing": 1.2
+        },
+        {
+          "type": "text",
+          "id": "bl_empty_before",
+          "name": "empty-label",
+          "fill": "#9ca3af",
+          "content": "No backlinks",
+          "fontFamily": "Inter",
+          "fontSize": 12,
+          "fontWeight": "normal"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    {
+      "type": "frame",
+      "id": "hideBacklinksEmpty_after",
+      "x": 320,
+      "y": 0,
+      "name": "Hide Empty Backlinks Label — After (section hidden when empty)",
+      "width": 280,
+      "height": 80,
+      "fill": "#ffffff",
+      "gap": 4,
+      "padding": 12,
+      "alignItems": "flex-start",
+      "children": [
+        {
+          "type": "text",
+          "id": "bl_note_after",
+          "name": "note",
+          "fill": "#9ca3af",
+          "content": "(Backlinks, Referenced By, and Relations sections are hidden when empty — no placeholder label shown)",
+          "fontFamily": "Inter",
+          "fontSize": 11,
+          "fontWeight": "normal"
+        }
+      ]
+    }
+  ]
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/components/Inspector.test.tsx b/src/components/Inspector.test.tsx
index b95a18c7..edf7e1da 100644
--- a/src/components/Inspector.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Inspector.test.tsx
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ describe('Inspector', () => {
     expect(onNavigate).toHaveBeenCalledWith('responsibility/grow-newsletter')
   })
 
-  it('shows "No relationships" when entry has no belongsTo/relatedTo', () => {
+  it('hides relationships label when entry has no belongsTo/relatedTo', () => {
     const noRels = { ...mockEntry, belongsTo: [], relatedTo: [] }
     const contentNoRels = `---
 title: Test Project
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ Status: Active
 This is a test note with some words to count.
 `
     render(<Inspector {...defaultProps} entry={noRels} content={contentNoRels} />)
-    expect(screen.getByText('No relationships')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('No relationships')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
   it('shows backlinks from notes that reference the current note via outgoingLinks', () => {
@@ -197,8 +197,8 @@ This is a test note with some words to count.
         entries={[mockEntry, { ...referrerEntry, outgoingLinks: [] }]}
       />
     )
-    // Initially no backlinks because referrer has empty outgoingLinks
-    expect(screen.getByText('No backlinks')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    // Initially no backlinks — section is hidden entirely
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Backlinks')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
 
     // Rerender with updated outgoingLinks (simulates adding [[Test Project]] to referrer)
     rerender(
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ This is a test note with some words to count.
     expect(screen.getByText('Referrer Note')).toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
-  it('shows "No backlinks" when no notes reference the current note', () => {
+  it('hides backlinks section when no notes reference the current note', () => {
     render(
       <Inspector
         {...defaultProps}
@@ -221,7 +221,8 @@ This is a test note with some words to count.
         entries={[mockEntry]}
       />
     )
-    expect(screen.getByText('No backlinks')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('No backlinks')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('Backlinks')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
   it('navigates when a backlink is clicked', () => {
@@ -499,7 +500,7 @@ Status: Active
       expect(allTwos.some(el => el.classList.contains('ml-1'))).toBe(true)
     })
 
-    it('shows "No references" when no entries reference the current note', () => {
+    it('hides referenced-by section when no entries reference the current note', () => {
       render(
         <Inspector
           {...defaultProps}
@@ -509,7 +510,8 @@ Status: Active
 
         />
       )
-      expect(screen.getByText('No references')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(screen.queryByText('No references')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Referenced by')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
     })
 
     it('navigates when clicking a referenced-by entry', () => {
@@ -549,8 +551,8 @@ Status: Active
       )
       // On Writing Well references responsibility via "Belongs to" (path match), not via "Type"
       // But the Type entry is at type/responsibility.md, so wikilinks to
-      // responsibility/grow-newsletter won't match. Should show "No references"
-      expect(screen.getByText('No references')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      // responsibility/grow-newsletter won't match. Section should be hidden
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Referenced by')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
     })
 
     it('resolves references via aliased wikilinks', () => {
@@ -612,8 +614,8 @@ Status: Active
       // noteA shows in Referenced By (via Belongs to)
       expect(screen.getByText(/via Belongs to/)).toBeInTheDocument()
       expect(screen.getByText('On Writing Well')).toBeInTheDocument()
-      // But NOT in Backlinks (even though outgoingLinks matches)
-      expect(screen.getByText('No backlinks')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      // But NOT in Backlinks (even though outgoingLinks matches) — section hidden
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Backlinks')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
     })
 
     it('does not show self-references', () => {
@@ -633,7 +635,7 @@ Status: Active
 
         />
       )
-      expect(screen.getByText('No references')).toBeInTheDocument()
+      expect(screen.queryByText('Referenced by')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
     })
   })
 })
diff --git a/src/components/Inspector.tsx b/src/components/Inspector.tsx
index 59815747..3a695faf 100644
--- a/src/components/Inspector.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Inspector.tsx
@@ -99,22 +99,7 @@ function InspectorHeader({ collapsed, onToggle }: { collapsed: boolean; onToggle
 
 function EmptyInspector() {
   return (
-    <>
-      <div><p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No note selected</p></div>
-      <div><p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No relationships</p></div>
-      <div>
-        <h4 className="font-mono-overline mb-2 text-muted-foreground">Referenced by</h4>
-        <p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No references</p>
-      </div>
-      <div>
-        <h4 className="font-mono-overline mb-2 text-muted-foreground">Backlinks</h4>
-        <p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No backlinks</p>
-      </div>
-      <div>
-        <h4 className="font-mono-overline mb-2 text-muted-foreground">History</h4>
-        <p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No revision history</p>
-      </div>
-    </>
+    <div><p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No note selected</p></div>
   )
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/InspectorPanels.test.tsx b/src/components/InspectorPanels.test.tsx
index 2f03abf3..9744c4c4 100644
--- a/src/components/InspectorPanels.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InspectorPanels.test.tsx
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe('DynamicRelationshipsPanel', () => {
     expect(chip!.style.color).toBe(expectedColor)
   })
 
-  it('shows "No relationships" when frontmatter has no relations', () => {
+  it('hides empty state label when frontmatter has no relations', () => {
     render(
       <DynamicRelationshipsPanel
         typeEntryMap={{}}
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe('DynamicRelationshipsPanel', () => {
         onNavigate={onNavigate}
       />
     )
-    expect(screen.getByText('No relationships')).toBeInTheDocument()
+    expect(screen.queryByText('No relationships')).not.toBeInTheDocument()
   })
 
   it('renders relationship groups with wikilinks', () => {
@@ -414,9 +414,9 @@ describe('BacklinksPanel', () => {
     vi.clearAllMocks()
   })
 
-  it('shows "No backlinks" when empty', () => {
-    render(<BacklinksPanel typeEntryMap={{}} backlinks={[]} onNavigate={onNavigate} />)
-    expect(screen.getByText('No backlinks')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  it('renders nothing when empty', () => {
+    const { container } = render(<BacklinksPanel typeEntryMap={{}} backlinks={[]} onNavigate={onNavigate} />)
+    expect(container.innerHTML).toBe('')
   })
 
   it('renders backlink entries', () => {
@@ -450,9 +450,9 @@ describe('ReferencedByPanel', () => {
     vi.clearAllMocks()
   })
 
-  it('shows "No references" when items is empty', () => {
-    render(<ReferencedByPanel typeEntryMap={{}} items={[]} onNavigate={onNavigate} />)
-    expect(screen.getByText('No references')).toBeInTheDocument()
+  it('renders nothing when empty', () => {
+    const { container } = render(<ReferencedByPanel typeEntryMap={{}} items={[]} onNavigate={onNavigate} />)
+    expect(container.innerHTML).toBe('')
   })
 
   it('renders referenced-by entries grouped by relationship key', () => {
diff --git a/src/components/InspectorPanels.tsx b/src/components/InspectorPanels.tsx
index 01b449d9..8dfe4035 100644
--- a/src/components/InspectorPanels.tsx
+++ b/src/components/InspectorPanels.tsx
@@ -364,16 +364,13 @@ export function DynamicRelationshipsPanel({ frontmatter, entries, typeEntryMap,
 
   return (
     <div>
-      {relationshipEntries.length === 0
-        ? <p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No relationships</p>
-        : relationshipEntries.map(({ key, refs }) => (
-          <RelationshipGroup
-            key={key} label={key} refs={refs} entries={entries} typeEntryMap={typeEntryMap} onNavigate={onNavigate}
-            onRemoveRef={canEdit ? (ref) => handleRemoveRef(key, ref) : undefined}
-            onAddRef={canEdit ? (noteTitle) => handleAddRef(key, noteTitle) : undefined}
-          />
-        ))
-      }
+      {relationshipEntries.map(({ key, refs }) => (
+        <RelationshipGroup
+          key={key} label={key} refs={refs} entries={entries} typeEntryMap={typeEntryMap} onNavigate={onNavigate}
+          onRemoveRef={canEdit ? (ref) => handleRemoveRef(key, ref) : undefined}
+          onAddRef={canEdit ? (noteTitle) => handleAddRef(key, noteTitle) : undefined}
+        />
+      ))}
       {onAddProperty
         ? <AddRelationshipForm entries={entries} onAddProperty={onAddProperty} />
         : <button className="mt-2 w-full border border-border bg-transparent text-center text-muted-foreground" style={{ borderRadius: 6, padding: '6px 12px', fontSize: 12, opacity: 0.5, cursor: 'not-allowed' }} disabled>+ Link existing</button>
@@ -383,24 +380,20 @@ export function DynamicRelationshipsPanel({ frontmatter, entries, typeEntryMap,
 }
 
 export function BacklinksPanel({ backlinks, typeEntryMap, onNavigate }: { backlinks: VaultEntry[]; typeEntryMap: Record<string, VaultEntry>; onNavigate: (target: string) => void }) {
+  if (backlinks.length === 0) return null
   return (
     <div>
       <h4 className="font-mono-overline mb-2 text-muted-foreground">
-        Backlinks {backlinks.length > 0 && <span className="ml-1" style={{ fontWeight: 400 }}>{backlinks.length}</span>}
+        Backlinks <span className="ml-1" style={{ fontWeight: 400 }}>{backlinks.length}</span>
       </h4>
-      {backlinks.length === 0
-        ? <p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No backlinks</p>
-        : (
-          <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-            {backlinks.map((e) => {
-              const te = typeEntryMap[e.isA ?? '']
-              return (
-                <LinkButton key={e.path} label={e.title} typeColor={getTypeColor(e.isA, te?.color)} isArchived={e.archived} isTrashed={e.trashed} onClick={() => onNavigate(e.title)} title={e.trashed ? 'Trashed' : e.archived ? 'Archived' : undefined} TypeIcon={getTypeIcon(e.isA, te?.icon)} />
-              )
-            })}
-          </div>
-        )
-      }
+      <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
+        {backlinks.map((e) => {
+          const te = typeEntryMap[e.isA ?? '']
+          return (
+            <LinkButton key={e.path} label={e.title} typeColor={getTypeColor(e.isA, te?.color)} isArchived={e.archived} isTrashed={e.trashed} onClick={() => onNavigate(e.title)} title={e.trashed ? 'Trashed' : e.archived ? 'Archived' : undefined} TypeIcon={getTypeIcon(e.isA, te?.icon)} />
+          )
+        })}
+      </div>
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -425,42 +418,39 @@ export function ReferencedByPanel({ items, typeEntryMap, onNavigate }: {
     return Array.from(map.entries())
   }, [items])
 
+  if (items.length === 0) return null
+
   return (
     <div>
       <h4 className="font-mono-overline mb-2 text-muted-foreground">
-        Referenced by {items.length > 0 && <span className="ml-1" style={{ fontWeight: 400 }}>{items.length}</span>}
+        Referenced by <span className="ml-1" style={{ fontWeight: 400 }}>{items.length}</span>
       </h4>
-      {items.length === 0
-        ? <p className="m-0 text-[13px] text-muted-foreground">No references</p>
-        : (
-          <div className="flex flex-col gap-2.5">
-            {grouped.map(([viaKey, groupEntries]) => (
-              <div key={viaKey}>
-                <span className="mb-1 block font-mono text-muted-foreground" style={{ fontSize: 9, fontWeight: 600, letterSpacing: '1.2px', textTransform: 'uppercase', opacity: 0.7 }}>
-                  via {viaKey}
-                </span>
-                <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
-                  {groupEntries.map((e) => {
-                    const te = typeEntryMap[e.isA ?? '']
-                    return (
-                      <LinkButton
-                        key={e.path}
-                        label={e.title}
-                        typeColor={getTypeColor(e.isA, te?.color)}
-                        isArchived={e.archived}
-                        isTrashed={e.trashed}
-                        onClick={() => onNavigate(e.title)}
-                        title={e.trashed ? 'Trashed' : e.archived ? 'Archived' : undefined}
-                        TypeIcon={getTypeIcon(e.isA, te?.icon)}
-                      />
-                    )
-                  })}
-                </div>
-              </div>
-            ))}
+      <div className="flex flex-col gap-2.5">
+        {grouped.map(([viaKey, groupEntries]) => (
+          <div key={viaKey}>
+            <span className="mb-1 block font-mono text-muted-foreground" style={{ fontSize: 9, fontWeight: 600, letterSpacing: '1.2px', textTransform: 'uppercase', opacity: 0.7 }}>
+              via {viaKey}
+            </span>
+            <div className="flex flex-col gap-0.5">
+              {groupEntries.map((e) => {
+                const te = typeEntryMap[e.isA ?? '']
+                return (
+                  <LinkButton
+                    key={e.path}
+                    label={e.title}
+                    typeColor={getTypeColor(e.isA, te?.color)}
+                    isArchived={e.archived}
+                    isTrashed={e.trashed}
+                    onClick={() => onNavigate(e.title)}
+                    title={e.trashed ? 'Trashed' : e.archived ? 'Archived' : undefined}
+                    TypeIcon={getTypeIcon(e.isA, te?.icon)}
+                  />
+                )
+              })}
+            </div>
           </div>
-        )
-      }
+        ))}
+      </div>
     </div>
   )
 }