diff --git a/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service.go b/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service.go
index 93af971732..1e96304983 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service.go
@@ -174,10 +174,6 @@ func (s Service) ListHostCatalogs(ctx context.Context, req *pbs.ListHostCatalogs
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, errors.Wrap(ctx, err, op)
 	}
-	// If no scopes match, return an empty response
-	if len(scopeIds) == 0 {
-		return &pbs.ListHostCatalogsResponse{}, nil
-	}
 	pageSize := int(s.maxPageSize)
 	// Use the requested page size only if it is smaller than
 	// the configured max.
diff --git a/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service_test.go b/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service_test.go
index 92e9d69997..a7a6fcd629 100644
--- a/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service_test.go
+++ b/internal/daemon/controller/handlers/host_catalogs/host_catalog_service_test.go
@@ -886,6 +886,28 @@ func TestListPagination(t *testing.T) {
 			protocmp.IgnoreFields(&pbs.ListHostCatalogsResponse{}, "list_token"),
 		),
 	)
+
+	// Create unauthenticated user
+	unauthAt := authtoken.TestAuthToken(t, conn, kms, org.GetPublicId())
+	unauthR := iam.TestRole(t, conn, proj.GetPublicId())
+	_ = iam.TestUserRole(t, conn, unauthR.GetPublicId(), unauthAt.GetIamUserId())
+
+	// Make a request with the unauthenticated user,
+	// ensure the response contains the pagination parameters.
+	requestInfo = authpb.RequestInfo{
+		TokenFormat: uint32(auth.AuthTokenTypeBearer),
+		PublicId:    unauthAt.GetPublicId(),
+		Token:       unauthAt.GetToken(),
+	}
+	requestContext = context.WithValue(context.Background(), requests.ContextRequestInformationKey, &requests.RequestContext{})
+	ctx = auth.NewVerifierContext(requestContext, iamRepoFn, tokenRepoFn, serversRepoFn, kms, &requestInfo)
+
+	_, err = s.ListHostCatalogs(ctx, &pbs.ListHostCatalogsRequest{
+		ScopeId:   "global",
+		Recursive: true,
+	})
+	require.Error(t, err)
+	assert.ErrorIs(t, handlers.ForbiddenError(), err)
 }
 
 func TestDelete_Static(t *testing.T) {