diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py
index 13bce01e8e..a2e26a5caa 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/_butler.py
@@ -1743,8 +1743,13 @@ def query_dimension_records(
             Names of the columns/dimensions to use for ordering returned data
             IDs. Column name can be prefixed with minus (``-``) to use
             descending ordering.
-        limit : `int`, optional
-            Upper limit on the number of returned records.
+        limit : `int` or `None`, optional
+            Upper limit on the number of returned records. `None` can be used
+            if no limit is wanted. A limit of ``0`` means that the query will
+            be executed and validated but no results will be returned. In this
+            case there will be no exception even if ``explain`` is `True`.
+            If a negative value is given a warning will be issued if the number
+            of results is capped by that limit.
         explain : `bool`, optional
             If `True` (default) then `EmptyQueryResultError` exception is
             raised when resulting list is empty. The exception contains
@@ -1781,15 +1786,27 @@ def query_dimension_records(
             data_id = DataCoordinate.make_empty(self.dimensions)
         if order_by is None:
             order_by = []
+        query_limit = limit
+        warn_limit = False
+        if limit is not None and limit < 0:
+            query_limit = abs(limit) + 1
+            warn_limit = True
         with self.query() as query:
             result = (
                 query.where(data_id, where, bind=bind, **kwargs)
                 .dimension_records(element)
                 .order_by(*ensure_iterable(order_by))
-                .limit(limit)
+                .limit(query_limit)
             )
             dimension_records = list(result)
-        if explain and not dimension_records:
+            if warn_limit and len(dimension_records) == query_limit:
+                # We asked for one too many so must remove that from the list.
+                dimension_records.pop(-1)
+                assert limit is not None  # For mypy.
+                _LOG.warning(
+                    "More dimension records are available than the requested limit of %d.", abs(limit)
+                )
+        if explain and (limit is None or limit != 0) and not dimension_records:
             raise EmptyQueryResultError(list(result.explain_no_results()))
         return dimension_records
 
diff --git a/python/lsst/daf/butler/tests/butler_queries.py b/python/lsst/daf/butler/tests/butler_queries.py
index a25d9e53bd..7e3b1b2188 100644
--- a/python/lsst/daf/butler/tests/butler_queries.py
+++ b/python/lsst/daf/butler/tests/butler_queries.py
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ def test_simple_record_query(self) -> None:
             results = query.dimension_records("detector")
             self.check_detector_records(results)
             self.check_detector_records_returned(butler.query_dimension_records("detector"))
+            self.assertEqual(len(butler.query_dimension_records("detector", limit=0)), 0)
             self.check_detector_records(results.order_by("detector"), ordered=True)
             self.check_detector_records_returned(
                 butler.query_dimension_records("detector", order_by="detector"), ordered=True
@@ -200,6 +201,13 @@ def test_simple_record_query(self) -> None:
                 ids=[1, 2],
                 ordered=True,
             )
+            with self.assertLogs("lsst.daf.butler", level="WARNING") as wcm:
+                self.check_detector_records_returned(
+                    butler.query_dimension_records("detector", limit=-2, order_by="-detector"),
+                    ids=[4, 3],
+                    ordered=True,
+                )
+            self.assertIn("More dimension records are available", wcm.output[0])
             self.check_detector_records(results.where(_x.detector.raft == "B", instrument="Cam1"), [3, 4])
             self.check_detector_records_returned(
                 butler.query_dimension_records(