diff --git a/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/viewmode.js b/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/viewmode.js
index 5ff9da6a..b2f9a4cb 100644
--- a/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/viewmode.js
+++ b/src/_h5ai/client/js/inc/view/viewmode.js
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ modulejs.define('view/viewmode', ['_', '$', 'core/event', 'core/resource', 'view
             '<div id="viewmode-toggle" class="tool">' +
                 '<img alt="viewmode"/>' +
             '</div>';
-    var modes = view.getModes();
-    var sizes = view.getSizes();
+    var modes;
+    var sizes;
 
 
     function onChanged(mode, size) {
@@ -77,6 +77,9 @@ modulejs.define('view/viewmode', ['_', '$', 'core/event', 'core/resource', 'view
 
     function init() {
 
+        modes = view.getModes();
+        sizes = view.getSizes();
+
         addSettings();
         addToggle();
         onChanged(view.getMode(), view.getSize());