diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creator-list-search-no-results.integration.test.ts b/src/modules/creators/creator-list-search-no-results.integration.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6e2057d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creator-list-search-no-results.integration.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,122 @@
+// Integration test: creator list search no-results state
+//
+// Verifies that a search query returning zero creators produces a response
+// with a searchTerm field in the pagination metadata, distinguishing it
+// from the generic unfiltered empty state.
+
+import { httpListCreators } from './creators.controllers';
+import * as creatorsUtils from './creators.utils';
+
+function makeReq(query: Record<string, string> = {}): any {
+   return { query };
+}
+
+function makeRes(): any {
+   const res: any = {};
+   res.status = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   res.json = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   res.setHeader = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   res.set = jest.fn().mockReturnValue(res);
+   return res;
+}
+
+function makeNext(): jest.Mock {
+   return jest.fn();
+}
+
+describe('GET /api/v1/creators — search no-results state', () => {
+   beforeEach(() => {
+      jest.spyOn(creatorsUtils, 'fetchCreatorList').mockResolvedValue([[], 0]);
+   });
+
+   afterEach(() => {
+      jest.restoreAllMocks();
+   });
+
+   it('includes searchTerm in meta when search returns zero results', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.meta).toHaveProperty('searchTerm', 'zzznomatch');
+   });
+
+   it('does not include searchTerm in meta for unfiltered empty list', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq();
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('searchTerm');
+   });
+
+   it('does not include searchTerm when search is cleared (empty string)', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: '' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('searchTerm');
+   });
+
+   it('does not include searchTerm when search is whitespace-only', async () => {
+      const req = makeReq({ search: '   ' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('searchTerm');
+   });
+
+   it('does not include searchTerm when search returns results (non-zero total)', async () => {
+      const now = new Date();
+      jest
+         .spyOn(creatorsUtils, 'fetchCreatorList')
+         .mockResolvedValue([
+            [
+               {
+                  id: '1',
+                  userId: 'u1',
+                  handle: 'found1',
+                  displayName: 'Found One',
+                  isVerified: false,
+                  createdAt: now,
+                  updatedAt: now,
+               } as any,
+               {
+                  id: '2',
+                  userId: 'u2',
+                  handle: 'found2',
+                  displayName: 'Found Two',
+                  isVerified: true,
+                  createdAt: now,
+                  updatedAt: now,
+               } as any,
+            ],
+            2,
+         ]);
+
+      const req = makeReq({ search: 'found' });
+      const res = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(req, res, makeNext());
+
+      const body = res.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+      expect(body.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('searchTerm');
+   });
+
+   it('no-results search state is distinct from unfiltered empty state', async () => {
+      const searchReq = makeReq({ search: 'zzznomatch' });
+      const searchRes = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(searchReq, searchRes, makeNext());
+      const searchBody = searchRes.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+
+      const emptyReq = makeReq();
+      const emptyRes = makeRes();
+      await httpListCreators(emptyReq, emptyRes, makeNext());
+      const emptyBody = emptyRes.json.mock.calls[0][0];
+
+      expect(searchBody.data.meta).toHaveProperty('searchTerm', 'zzznomatch');
+      expect(emptyBody.data.meta).not.toHaveProperty('searchTerm');
+   });
+});
diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts b/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts
index 23508a1..febe102 100644
--- a/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creators.controllers.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ export const httpListCreators: AsyncController = async (req, res, next) => {
             limit: validatedQuery.limit,
             offset: validatedQuery.offset,
             total,
+            ...(validatedQuery.search !== undefined && total === 0
+               ? { searchTerm: validatedQuery.search }
+               : {}),
          })
       );
 
@@ -380,7 +383,7 @@ export const httpGetTrendingCreators: AsyncController = async (
       );
 
       // Sort by volume descending
-      creatorsWithVolume.sort((a, b) => {
+      creatorsWithVolume.sort((a: { volume_24h: string }, b: { volume_24h: string }) => {
          const volA = BigInt(a.volume_24h);
          const volB = BigInt(b.volume_24h);
          if (volB > volA) return 1;
diff --git a/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts b/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts
index e24419e..e3cc3ba 100644
--- a/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts
+++ b/src/modules/creators/creators.serializers.ts
@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ export function serializeCreatorListOffsetMeta(
       offset: meta.offset,
       total: meta.total,
       hasMore: meta.hasMore,
+      ...(meta.searchTerm !== undefined ? { searchTerm: meta.searchTerm } : {}),
    };
 }
 
diff --git a/src/utils/pagination.utils.ts b/src/utils/pagination.utils.ts
index f959c8e..90b1e5d 100644
--- a/src/utils/pagination.utils.ts
+++ b/src/utils/pagination.utils.ts
@@ -18,12 +18,14 @@ export type OffsetPaginationMeta = {
    offset: number;
    total: number;
    hasMore: boolean;
+   searchTerm?: string;
 };
 
 export type OffsetPaginationMetaParams = {
    limit: number;
    offset: number;
    total: number;
+   searchTerm?: string;
 };
 
 export const buildPaginationMeta = ({
@@ -53,6 +55,7 @@ export const buildOffsetPaginationMeta = ({
    limit,
    offset,
    total,
+   searchTerm,
 }: OffsetPaginationMetaParams): OffsetPaginationMeta => {
    const safeLimit = Math.max(1, Math.floor(limit));
    const safeOffset = Math.max(0, Math.floor(offset));
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ export const buildOffsetPaginationMeta = ({
       offset: safeOffset,
       total: safeTotal,
       hasMore: safeOffset + safeLimit < safeTotal,
+      ...(searchTerm !== undefined ? { searchTerm } : {}),
    };
 };