diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/buildtool/ExecutionProgressReceiver.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/buildtool/ExecutionProgressReceiver.java
index b2805340bd3988..54d58572fc8a96 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/buildtool/ExecutionProgressReceiver.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/buildtool/ExecutionProgressReceiver.java
@@ -243,4 +243,8 @@ public void maybeReportInactivity() {
       }
     };
   }
+
+  public boolean hasActionsInFlight() {
+    return completedActions.size() < exclusiveTestsCount + enqueuedActions.size();
+  }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/runtime/UiStateTracker.java b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/runtime/UiStateTracker.java
index 03e61490c96d8d..2a1806ab894138 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/runtime/UiStateTracker.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/google/devtools/build/lib/runtime/UiStateTracker.java
@@ -1246,7 +1246,11 @@ protected void writeExecutionProgress(
     ActionState oldestAction = getOldestAction();
     if (actionsCount == 0 || oldestAction == null) {
       // TODO(b/239693084): Improve the message here.
-      terminalWriter.normal().append(" checking cached actions");
+      if (executionProgressReceiver != null && executionProgressReceiver.hasActionsInFlight()) {
+        terminalWriter.normal().append(" checking cached actions");
+      } else {
+        terminalWriter.normal().append(" no actions running");
+      }
       maybeShowRecentTest(terminalWriter, shortVersion, targetWidth - terminalWriter.getPosition());
     } else if (actionsCount == 1) {
       if (maybeShowRecentTest(null, shortVersion, targetWidth - terminalWriter.getPosition())) {