diff --git a/felt/core/workspaces_model.py b/felt/core/workspaces_model.py
index 7a59164..bb65900 100644
--- a/felt/core/workspaces_model.py
+++ b/felt/core/workspaces_model.py
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@
     Qt,
     QAbstractItemModel,
     QObject,
-    QModelIndex
+    QModelIndex,
+    pyqtSignal
 )
 from qgis.PyQt.QtNetwork import (
     QNetworkReply
@@ -37,6 +38,8 @@ class WorkspacesModel(QAbstractItemModel):
     UrlRole = Qt.UserRole + 2
     IdRole = Qt.UserRole + 4
 
+    no_workspaces_found = pyqtSignal()
+
     def __init__(self, parent: Optional[QObject] = None):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
@@ -81,6 +84,9 @@ def _reply_finished(self, reply: QNetworkReply):
 
         self.endInsertRows()
 
+        if not self.workspaces:
+            self.no_workspaces_found.emit()
+
     # Qt model interface
 
     # pylint: disable=missing-docstring,unused-argument
diff --git a/felt/gui/create_map_dialog.py b/felt/gui/create_map_dialog.py
index ca41066..c463eda 100644
--- a/felt/gui/create_map_dialog.py
+++ b/felt/gui/create_map_dialog.py
@@ -233,6 +233,7 @@ def upload_raster_as_styled_toggled():
         # pylint: enable=import-outside-toplevel
         self.maps_widget = RecentMapsWidget()
         self.workspace_combo = WorkspacesComboBox()
+        self.workspace_combo.no_workspaces_found.connect(self._no_workspace)
         self.workspace_combo.workspace_changed.connect(self._workspace_changed)
         self.workspace_combo.setFixedHeight(
             int(QFontMetrics(self.workspace_combo.font()).height() * 1.5)
@@ -322,8 +323,21 @@ def _fatal_error(self, error: str):
         self.error_label.setText(error)
         self.button_box.button(QDialogButtonBox.Ok).deleteLater()
 
-    def _validate_initial(self):
+    def _no_workspace(self):
+        """
+        Called when no workspaces are available
+        """
+        self._fatal_error(
+            self.tr("You don’t have edit access for any workspaces. "
+                    "Ask your workspace admin for edit access, "
+                    "or create your own workspace."
+                    )
+        )
 
+    def _validate_initial(self):
+        """
+        Performs an initial one-time validated of the environment
+        """
         error: Optional[str] = None
 
         export_layers = self.layers if self.layers else \
diff --git a/felt/gui/workspaces_combo.py b/felt/gui/workspaces_combo.py
index 0309ff3..b2ebcd5 100644
--- a/felt/gui/workspaces_combo.py
+++ b/felt/gui/workspaces_combo.py
@@ -23,11 +23,13 @@ class WorkspacesComboBox(QComboBox):
     """
 
     workspace_changed = pyqtSignal(str)
+    no_workspaces_found = pyqtSignal()
 
     def __init__(self, parent: Optional[QWidget] = None):
         super().__init__(parent)
 
         self._model = WorkspacesModel(self)
+        self._model.no_workspaces_found.connect(self.no_workspaces_found)
         self.setModel(self._model)
 
         self.currentIndexChanged.connect(self._index_changed)