diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/qt/sidebar.cc b/selfdrive/ui/qt/sidebar.cc
index cd53a5b725c831..73c4e2f8ce6b65 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/qt/sidebar.cc
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/qt/sidebar.cc
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ void Sidebar::mouseReleaseEvent(QMouseEvent *event) {
 }
 
 void Sidebar::updateState(const UIState &s) {
+  if (!isVisible()) return;
+
   auto &sm = *(s.sm);
 
   auto deviceState = sm["deviceState"].getDeviceState();