diff --git a/src/bin/e_shelf.c b/src/bin/e_shelf.c
index b699d3735..c1c828266 100644
--- a/src/bin/e_shelf.c
+++ b/src/bin/e_shelf.c
@@ -1044,7 +1044,7 @@ e_shelf_config_new(E_Zone *zone, E_Config_Shelf *cf_es)
          * if its gadcon has not populated; instead we show it in
          * the E_EVENT_GADCON_POPULATE handler
          */
-        if (es->gadcon->clients)
+        if (es->gadcon->clients || (!es->gadcon->cf->clients))
           e_shelf_show(es);
      }