diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/topic-map.js.es6 b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/topic-map.js.es6
index f568e435cc..d938f0c58f 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/topic-map.js.es6
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/widgets/topic-map.js.es6
@@ -222,10 +222,14 @@ createWidget("topic-map-expanded", {
   },
 
   html(attrs, state) {
-    const avatars = h("section.avatars.clearfix", [
-      h("h3", I18n.t("topic_map.participants_title")),
-      renderParticipants.call(this, attrs.userFilters, attrs.participants)
-    ]);
+    let avatars;
+
+    if (attrs.participants && attrs.participants.length > 0) {
+      avatars = h("section.avatars.clearfix", [
+        h("h3", I18n.t("topic_map.participants_title")),
+        renderParticipants.call(this, attrs.userFilters, attrs.participants)
+      ]);
+    }
 
     const result = [avatars];
     if (attrs.topicLinks) {