diff --git a/news/changelog-1.5.md b/news/changelog-1.5.md
index 110f73a47b7..cb8e6a4bfb6 100644
--- a/news/changelog-1.5.md
+++ b/news/changelog-1.5.md
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ All changes included in 1.5:
 - ([#9125](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/9125)): Fix issue in browser console with TOC selection when the document is using ids for headers with specific characters (e.g russian language headers).
 - ([#9539](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/9539)): Improve SCSS of title blocks to avoid overwide columns in grid layout.
 - Improve accessibility `role` for `aria-expandable` elements by ensuring their role supports the `aria-expanded` attribute.
+- ([#3178](https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/issues/3178)): TOC now correctly expands when web page has no content to scroll to.
 
 ## PDF Format
 
diff --git a/src/resources/formats/html/quarto.js b/src/resources/formats/html/quarto.js
index 11803b02a70..260f0af417b 100644
--- a/src/resources/formats/html/quarto.js
+++ b/src/resources/formats/html/quarto.js
@@ -134,8 +134,10 @@ window.document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (_event) {
       window.innerHeight + window.pageYOffset >=
       window.document.body.offsetHeight
     ) {
+      // This is the no-scroll case where last section should be the active one
       sectionIndex = 0;
     } else {
+      // This finds the last section visible on screen that should be made active
       sectionIndex = [...sections].reverse().findIndex((section) => {
         if (section) {
           return window.pageYOffset >= section.offsetTop - sectionMargin;
@@ -739,6 +741,7 @@ window.document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (_event) {
     // Process the collapse state if this is an UL
     if (el.tagName === "UL") {
       if (tocOpenDepth === -1 && depth > 1) {
+        // toc-expand: false
         el.classList.add("collapse");
       } else if (
         depth <= tocOpenDepth ||
@@ -757,10 +760,9 @@ window.document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (_event) {
   };
 
   // walk the TOC and expand / collapse any items that should be shown
-
   if (tocEl) {
-    walk(tocEl, 0);
     updateActiveLink();
+    walk(tocEl, 0);
   }
 
   // Throttle the scroll event and walk peridiocally
@@ -779,6 +781,10 @@ window.document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function (_event) {
   window.addEventListener(
     "resize",
     throttle(() => {
+      if (tocEl) {
+        updateActiveLink();
+        walk(tocEl, 0);
+      }
       if (!isReaderMode()) {
         hideOverlappedSidebars();
       }