diff --git a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebooklist.js b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebooklist.js
index 899493d..e8bcf6c 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebooklist.js
+++ b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/notebooklist.js
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ var IPython = (function (IPython) {
             if (!IPython.read_only){
                 // hide delete buttons when readonly
                 this.add_delete_button(item);
+                $('#drag_info').removeClass('hidden');
             } else {
                 $('#drag_info').remove();
             }
diff --git a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/projectdashboardmain.js b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/projectdashboardmain.js
index 4d6f9d3..880bd01 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/projectdashboardmain.js
+++ b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/static/js/projectdashboardmain.js
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ $(document).ready(function () {
     IPython.login_widget = new IPython.LoginWidget('span#login_widget');
     
     if (IPython.read_only){
-        $('#new_notebook').addClass('hidden');
         // unhide login button if it's relevant
         $('span#login_widget').removeClass('hidden');
+    } else {
+        $('#new_notebook').removeClass('hidden');
     }
     IPython.notebook_list.load_list();
 
diff --git a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/templates/projectdashboard.html b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/templates/projectdashboard.html
index a893848..631e2bd 100644
--- a/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/templates/projectdashboard.html
+++ b/IPython/frontend/html/notebook/templates/projectdashboard.html
@@ -20,9 +20,9 @@ data-base-kernel-url={{base_kernel_url}}
 
 {% block content_panel %}
     <div id="content_toolbar">
-        <span id="drag_info">Drag files onto the list to import notebooks.</span>
+        <span id="drag_info" class="hidden">Drag files onto the list to import notebooks.</span>
         <span id="notebooks_buttons">
-            <button id="new_notebook">New Notebook</button>
+            <button id="new_notebook" class="hidden">New Notebook</button>
         </span>
     </div>
     <div id="notebook_list">