diff --git a/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py b/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
index d14a54873..bb0e597c9 100644
--- a/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
+++ b/moto/dynamodb2/responses.py
@@ -92,16 +92,24 @@ class DynamoHandler(BaseResponse):
     def list_tables(self):
         body = self.body
         limit = body.get("Limit", 100)
-        if body.get("ExclusiveStartTableName"):
-            last = body.get("ExclusiveStartTableName")
-            start = list(self.dynamodb_backend.tables.keys()).index(last) + 1
+        all_tables = list(self.dynamodb_backend.tables.keys())
+
+        exclusive_start_table_name = body.get("ExclusiveStartTableName")
+        if exclusive_start_table_name:
+            try:
+                last_table_index = all_tables.index(exclusive_start_table_name)
+            except ValueError:
+                start = len(all_tables)
+            else:
+                start = last_table_index + 1
         else:
             start = 0
-        all_tables = list(self.dynamodb_backend.tables.keys())
+
         if limit:
             tables = all_tables[start : start + limit]
         else:
             tables = all_tables[start:]
+
         response = {"TableNames": tables}
         if limit and len(all_tables) > start + limit:
             response["LastEvaluatedTableName"] = tables[-1]
diff --git a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
index 0004001bc..baea25c1b 100644
--- a/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
+++ b/tests/test_dynamodb2/test_dynamodb.py
@@ -4277,3 +4277,12 @@ def test_update_expression_with_multiple_set_clauses_must_be_comma_separated():
         assert False, "Validation exception not thrown"
     except dynamodb.exceptions.ClientError as e:
         assert_raise_syntax_error(e, "Mystr2", "myNum Mystr2 myNum2")
+
+
+@mock_dynamodb2
+def test_list_tables_exclusive_start_table_name_empty():
+    client = boto3.client("dynamodb", region_name="us-east-1")
+
+    resp = client.list_tables(Limit=1, ExclusiveStartTableName="whatever")
+
+    len(resp["TableNames"]).should.equal(0)