diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/navigation/default.hbs b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/navigation/default.hbs
index c8cc96a9e7..07fb2f693d 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/navigation/default.hbs
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/discourse/templates/navigation/default.hbs
@@ -4,6 +4,6 @@
   {{navigation-bar navItems=navItems filterMode=filterMode}}
 
   {{#if canCreateTopic}}
-    <button id="create-topic" class='btn btn-default' {{action "createTopic"}}><i class='fa fa-plus'></i>{{i18n 'topic.create'}}</button>
+    <button id="create-topic" class='btn btn-default' {{action "createTopic"}}><i class='fa fa-plus'></i><span>{{i18n 'topic.create'}}</span></button>
   {{/if}}
 {{/d-section}}
diff --git a/app/assets/stylesheets/desktop/topic-list.scss b/app/assets/stylesheets/desktop/topic-list.scss
index c59373c6ed..58932112a1 100644
--- a/app/assets/stylesheets/desktop/topic-list.scss
+++ b/app/assets/stylesheets/desktop/topic-list.scss
@@ -313,10 +313,20 @@ and (max-width : 850px) {
   .nav-pills {
     > li > a {
       font-size: 1em;
-      padding: 5px 10px ;
+      padding: 5px 10px;
       }
   }
 
+  // new topic just a "+" no text
+  button#create-topic {
+    span {
+      display: none;
+    }
+    i {
+      margin-right: 0;
+    }
+  }
+
   .topic-list {
 
     // tighter table header spacing