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: {

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"
           >