diff --git a/controllers/retrieve_secrets.go b/controllers/retrieve_secrets.go
index c0c22b3..f079256 100644
--- a/controllers/retrieve_secrets.go
+++ b/controllers/retrieve_secrets.go
@@ -51,13 +51,17 @@ func RetrieveSecret(c *gin.Context) {
 		return
 	}
 
-	if len(results) > 1 {
+	if len(results) == 1 {
+		// output results as json
+		c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"message": "success", "data": results})
+	} else if len(results) > 1 {
 		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "found multiple matching secrets, use retrieveMultiple instead"})
 		return
+	} else {
+		c.JSON(http.StatusBadRequest, gin.H{"error": "found no matching secrets"})
+		return
 	}
 
-	// output results as json
-	c.JSON(http.StatusOK, gin.H{"message": "success", "data": results})
 }
 
 func RetrieveMultpleSecrets(c *gin.Context) {