diff --git a/src/boot/after_store.js b/src/boot/after_store.js
index f169d7ba05..228a0497e5 100644
--- a/src/boot/after_store.js
+++ b/src/boot/after_store.js
@@ -228,6 +228,12 @@ const getNodeInfo = async ({ store }) => {
 
       const federation = metadata.federation
       store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', { name: 'federationPolicy', value: federation })
+      store.dispatch('setInstanceOption', {
+        name: 'federating',
+        value: typeof federation.enabled === 'undefined'
+          ? true
+          : federation.enabled
+      })
 
       const accounts = metadata.staffAccounts
       await resolveStaffAccounts({ store, accounts })
diff --git a/src/components/nav_panel/nav_panel.js b/src/components/nav_panel/nav_panel.js
index 515e47e6f7..d926858584 100644
--- a/src/components/nav_panel/nav_panel.js
+++ b/src/components/nav_panel/nav_panel.js
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ const NavPanel = {
     chat: state => state.chat.channel,
     followRequestCount: state => state.api.followRequests.length,
     privateMode: state => state.instance.private,
-    federating: state => state.instance.federationPolicy.enabled || state.instance.federationPolicy.enabled !== false
+    federating: state => state.instance.federating
   })
 }
 
diff --git a/src/components/side_drawer/side_drawer.js b/src/components/side_drawer/side_drawer.js
index 670d28b443..2534eb8f61 100644
--- a/src/components/side_drawer/side_drawer.js
+++ b/src/components/side_drawer/side_drawer.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ const SideDrawer = {
       return this.$store.state.instance.private
     },
     federating () {
-      return this.$store.state.instance.federationPolicy.enabled || this.$store.state.instance.federationPolicy.enabled !== false
+      return this.$store.state.instance.federating
     }
   },
   methods: {