diff --git a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/maps/auto_fit_to_bounds.js b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/maps/auto_fit_to_bounds.js
index c8e8db84df96f..5057e015cd6fc 100644
--- a/x-pack/test/functional/apps/maps/auto_fit_to_bounds.js
+++ b/x-pack/test/functional/apps/maps/auto_fit_to_bounds.js
@@ -25,10 +25,20 @@ export default function ({ getPageObjects }) {
         await PageObjects.maps.setAndSubmitQuery('machine.os.raw : "ios"');
         await PageObjects.maps.waitForMapPanAndZoom(origView);
 
+        const hits = await PageObjects.maps.getHits();
+        expect(hits).to.equal('2');
+
         const { lat, lon } = await PageObjects.maps.getView();
         expect(Math.round(lat)).to.equal(43);
         expect(Math.round(lon)).to.equal(-102);
       });
+
+      it('should sync layers even when there is not data', async () => {
+        await PageObjects.maps.setAndSubmitQuery('machine.os.raw : "fake_os_with_no_matches"');
+
+        const hits = await PageObjects.maps.getHits();
+        expect(hits).to.equal('0');
+      });
     });
 
     describe('with joins', () => {