diff --git a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/sidebar.js b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/sidebar.js
index f2c96012..d56260fd 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/sidebar.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/public/js/lib/view/sidebar.js
@@ -4,7 +4,10 @@ const allsettings = require('../core/settings');
 const store = require('../core/store');
 const base = require('./base');
 
-const disabled = !!(allsettings.view && allsettings.view.disableSidebar);
+
+const settings = Object.assign({
+    disableSidebar: false
+}, allsettings.view);
 const storekey = 'sidebarIsVisible';
 const tplSidebar = '<div id="sidebar"/>';
 const tplToggle =
@@ -12,6 +15,7 @@ const tplToggle =
             <img alt="sidebar"/>
         </div>`;
 
+
 const init = () => {
     const $sidebar = jq(tplSidebar);
     const $toggle = jq(tplToggle);
@@ -36,14 +40,12 @@ const init = () => {
         }
     };
 
-    if (!disabled) {
+    if (!settings.disableSidebar) {
         $sidebar.appendTo(base.$mainrow);
-        $toggle.appendTo(base.$toolbar);
+        $toggle.appendTo(base.$toolbar).on('click', () => update(true));
+        update();
     }
 
-    $toggle.on('click', () => update(true));
-    update();
-
     return {
         $el: $sidebar
     };