diff --git a/frigate/api/app.py b/frigate/api/app.py
index 5860377e7..f6e9471f2 100644
--- a/frigate/api/app.py
+++ b/frigate/api/app.py
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ from fastapi.encoders import jsonable_encoder
 from fastapi.params import Depends
 from fastapi.responses import JSONResponse, PlainTextResponse, StreamingResponse
 from markupsafe import escape
-from peewee import operator
+from peewee import SQL, operator
 from pydantic import ValidationError
 
 from frigate.api.auth import require_role
@@ -685,7 +685,14 @@ def plusModels(request: Request, filterByCurrentModelDetector: bool = False):
 @router.get("/recognized_license_plates")
 def get_recognized_license_plates(split_joined: Optional[int] = None):
     try:
-        events = Event.select(Event.data).distinct()
+        query = (
+            Event.select(
+                SQL("json_extract(data, '$.recognized_license_plate') AS plate")
+            )
+            .where(SQL("json_extract(data, '$.recognized_license_plate') IS NOT NULL"))
+            .distinct()
+        )
+        recognized_license_plates = [row[0] for row in query.tuples()]
     except Exception:
         return JSONResponse(
             content=(
@@ -694,14 +701,6 @@ def get_recognized_license_plates(split_joined: Optional[int] = None):
             status_code=404,
         )
 
-    recognized_license_plates = []
-    for e in events:
-        if e.data is not None and "recognized_license_plate" in e.data:
-            recognized_license_plates.append(e.data["recognized_license_plate"])
-
-    while None in recognized_license_plates:
-        recognized_license_plates.remove(None)
-
     if split_joined:
         original_recognized_license_plates = recognized_license_plates.copy()
         for recognized_license_plate in original_recognized_license_plates:
diff --git a/web/src/components/overlay/dialog/SearchFilterDialog.tsx b/web/src/components/overlay/dialog/SearchFilterDialog.tsx
index 45ba338f4..b9c03c796 100644
--- a/web/src/components/overlay/dialog/SearchFilterDialog.tsx
+++ b/web/src/components/overlay/dialog/SearchFilterDialog.tsx
@@ -948,11 +948,11 @@ export function RecognizedLicensePlatesFilterContent({
       <DropdownMenuSeparator className="mb-3" />
       <div className="mb-3 text-lg">{t("recognizedLicensePlates.title")}</div>
       {allRecognizedLicensePlates == undefined ? (
-        <p className="flex items-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-          <ActivityIndicator className="mr-2 size-5" />
-          {t("recognizedLicensePlates.loading")}
-        </p>
-      ) : allRecognizedLicensePlates.length === 0 ? null : (
+        <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+          <ActivityIndicator className="mb-3 mr-2 size-5" />
+          <p>{t("recognizedLicensePlates.loading")}</p>
+        </div>
+      ) : allRecognizedLicensePlates.length == 0 ? null : (
         <>
           <Command
             className="border border-input bg-background"
@@ -1007,11 +1007,11 @@ export function RecognizedLicensePlatesFilterContent({
               ))}
             </div>
           )}
+          <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+            {t("recognizedLicensePlates.selectPlatesFromList")}
+          </p>
         </>
       )}
-      <p className="mt-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-        {t("recognizedLicensePlates.selectPlatesFromList")}
-      </p>
     </div>
   );
 }