diff --git a/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.js b/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.js
index 78e93f0e..f4900c38 100644
--- a/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.js
+++ b/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.js
@@ -100,6 +100,9 @@ export default {
     privateMode () { return this.$store.state.instance.private },
     shouldConfirmLogout () {
       return this.$store.getters.mergedConfig.modalOnLogout
+    },
+    showBubbleTimeline () {
+      return this.$store.state.instance.localBubbleInstances.length > 0
     }
   },
   methods: {
diff --git a/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.vue b/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.vue
index 0c592326..92d3fa5b 100644
--- a/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.vue
+++ b/src/components/desktop_nav/desktop_nav.vue
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@
             />
           </router-link>
           <router-link
-            v-if="currentUser"
+            v-if="currentUser && showBubbleTimeline"
             :to="{ name: 'bubble-timeline' }"
             class="nav-icon"
           >