diff --git a/src/DebugBar/JavascriptRenderer.php b/src/DebugBar/JavascriptRenderer.php
index 3a3d656..7cc16b0 100644
--- a/src/DebugBar/JavascriptRenderer.php
+++ b/src/DebugBar/JavascriptRenderer.php
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class JavascriptRenderer
 
     protected $useRequireJs = false;
 
-    protected $hideEmptyTabs = false;
+    protected $hideEmptyTabs = null;
 
     protected $initialization;
 
diff --git a/tests/DebugBar/Tests/JavascriptRendererTest.php b/tests/DebugBar/Tests/JavascriptRendererTest.php
index cfbcae0..6361080 100644
--- a/tests/DebugBar/Tests/JavascriptRendererTest.php
+++ b/tests/DebugBar/Tests/JavascriptRendererTest.php
@@ -147,6 +147,13 @@ class JavascriptRendererTest extends DebugBarTestCase
         $this->assertStringStartsWith("<script type=\"text/javascript\" nonce=\"mynonce\">\nvar phpdebugbar = new PhpDebugBar.DebugBar();", $this->r->render());
     }
 
+    public function testRenderConstructorWithEmptyTabsHidden()
+    {
+        $this->r->setInitialization(JavascriptRenderer::INITIALIZE_CONSTRUCTOR);
+        $this->r->setHideEmptyTabs(true);
+        $this->assertStringStartsWith("<script type=\"text/javascript\">\nvar phpdebugbar = new PhpDebugBar.DebugBar();\nphpdebugbar.setHideEmptyTabs(true);", $this->r->render());
+    }
+
     public function testJQueryNoConflictAutoDisabling()
     {
         $this->assertTrue($this->r->isJqueryNoConflictEnabled());