Index: wp-admin/css/nav-menus.css
===================================================================
--- wp-admin/css/nav-menus.css	(revision 36854)
+++ wp-admin/css/nav-menus.css	(working copy)
@@ -27,6 +27,10 @@
 	margin-bottom: 0;
 }
 
+.has-no-menu-item .button-controls{
+	display: none;
+}
+
 #nav-menus-frame {
 	margin-left: 300px;
 	margin-top: 23px;
Index: wp-admin/js/nav-menu.js
===================================================================
--- wp-admin/js/nav-menu.js	(revision 36854)
+++ wp-admin/js/nav-menu.js	(working copy)
@@ -1054,6 +1054,13 @@
 					// select the search bar
 					$('.quick-search', wrapper).focus();
 
+					//hide button controls if no items found
+					if( ! wrapper.find('.tabs-panel-active .menu-item-title').length ){
+						wrapper.addClass('has-no-menu-item');
+					}else{
+						wrapper.removeClass('has-no-menu-item');
+					}
+
 					e.preventDefault();
 				} else if ( target.hasClass('select-all') ) {
 					selectAreaMatch = /#(.*)$/.exec(e.target.href);
@@ -1186,11 +1193,13 @@
 			form = document.getElementById('nav-menu-meta'),
 			pattern = /menu-item[(\[^]\]*/,
 			$items = $('<div>').html(resp).find('li'),
+			wrapper = panel.closest('.accordion-section-content '),
 			$item;
 
 			if( ! $items.length ) {
 				$('.categorychecklist', panel).html( '<li><p>' + navMenuL10n.noResultsFound + '</p></li>' );
 				$( '.spinner', panel ).removeClass( 'is-active' );
+				wrapper.addClass('has-no-menu-item');
 				return;
 			}
 
@@ -1218,6 +1227,7 @@
 
 			$('.categorychecklist', panel).html( $items );
 			$( '.spinner', panel ).removeClass( 'is-active' );
+			wrapper.removeClass('has-no-menu-item');
 		},
 
 		removeMenuItem : function(el) {