diff --git a/src/request_tab_widget.py b/src/request_tab_widget.py
index 49003ba..3f53b11 100644
--- a/src/request_tab_widget.py
+++ b/src/request_tab_widget.py
@@ -936,13 +936,20 @@ class RequestTabWidget(Gtk.Box):
         if not isinstance(script_result, ScriptResult):
             return
 
-        # Show container
-        self.script_results_container.set_visible(True)
+        # Determine if there's meaningful content to display (before building output_text)
+        has_content = (
+            (script_result.success and script_result.output.strip()) or  # Has console output
+            script_result.variable_updates or  # Set variables
+            script_result.warnings or  # Has warnings
+            not script_result.success  # Has errors
+        )
 
-        # Adjust paned positions to make the panel visible (use idle_add to wait for proper sizing)
-        GLib.idle_add(self._adjust_paned_for_script_results)
+        # If no content, hide the panel and return early
+        if not has_content:
+            self._clear_script_results()
+            return
 
-        # Set status icon
+        # Build output text for display
         if script_result.success:
             self.script_status_icon.set_from_icon_name("object-select-symbolic")
             output_text = script_result.output
@@ -968,6 +975,12 @@ class RequestTabWidget(Gtk.Box):
             for warning in script_result.warnings:
                 output_text += f"\n⚠ {warning}"
 
+        # Show container and display output
+        self.script_results_container.set_visible(True)
+
+        # Adjust paned positions to make the panel visible (use idle_add to wait for proper sizing)
+        GLib.idle_add(self._adjust_paned_for_script_results)
+
         # Set output text
         buffer = self.script_output_textview.get_buffer()
         buffer.set_text(output_text)
@@ -1017,13 +1030,20 @@ class RequestTabWidget(Gtk.Box):
         if not isinstance(preprocessing_result, ScriptResult):
             return
 
-        # Show container
-        self.preprocessing_results_container.set_visible(True)
+        # Determine if there's meaningful content to display (before building output_text)
+        has_content = (
+            (preprocessing_result.success and preprocessing_result.output.strip()) or  # Has console output
+            preprocessing_result.variable_updates or  # Set variables
+            preprocessing_result.warnings or  # Has warnings
+            not preprocessing_result.success  # Has errors
+        )
 
-        # Adjust paned positions to make the panel visible (use idle_add to wait for proper sizing)
-        GLib.idle_add(self._adjust_paned_for_preprocessing_results)
+        # If no content, hide the panel and return early
+        if not has_content:
+            self._clear_preprocessing_results()
+            return
 
-        # Set status icon
+        # Build output text for display
         if preprocessing_result.success:
             self.preprocessing_status_icon.set_from_icon_name("object-select-symbolic")
             output_text = preprocessing_result.output
@@ -1049,13 +1069,19 @@ class RequestTabWidget(Gtk.Box):
             for warning in preprocessing_result.warnings:
                 output_text += f"\n⚠ {warning}"
 
-        # Add request modification summary if successful
+        # Add request modification summary if successful and there's other content to show
         if preprocessing_result.success and preprocessing_result.modified_request:
             if output_text:
                 output_text += "\n"
             output_text += "\n--- Request Modified ---"
             output_text += "\n✓ Request was modified by preprocessing script"
 
+        # Show container and display output
+        self.preprocessing_results_container.set_visible(True)
+
+        # Adjust paned positions to make the panel visible (use idle_add to wait for proper sizing)
+        GLib.idle_add(self._adjust_paned_for_preprocessing_results)
+
         # Set output text
         buffer = self.preprocessing_output_textview.get_buffer()
         buffer.set_text(output_text)