diff --git a/IPython/html/static/tree/js/notebooklist.js b/IPython/html/static/tree/js/notebooklist.js
index 4ccb2d9..7ed824e 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/tree/js/notebooklist.js
+++ b/IPython/html/static/tree/js/notebooklist.js
@@ -493,6 +493,13 @@ define([
         }
         // Update total counter
         $('#counter-select-all').html(checked===0 ? ' ' : checked);
+
+        // If at aleast on item is selected, hide the selection instructions.
+        if (checked > 0) {
+            $('.dynamic-instructions').hide();
+        } else {
+            $('.dynamic-instructions').show();
+        }
     };
 
     NotebookList.prototype.add_link = function (model, item) {
diff --git a/IPython/html/static/tree/less/tree.less b/IPython/html/static/tree/less/tree.less
index 1d8b246..e75587f 100644
--- a/IPython/html/static/tree/less/tree.less
+++ b/IPython/html/static/tree/less/tree.less
@@ -322,3 +322,8 @@ ul#new-menu {
 .shutdown-button {
     display: none;
 }
+
+.dynamic-instructions {
+    display: inline-block;
+    padding-top: @dashboard_tb_pad;
+}
diff --git a/IPython/html/templates/tree.html b/IPython/html/templates/tree.html
index c95dc63..853bb8e 100644
--- a/IPython/html/templates/tree.html
+++ b/IPython/html/templates/tree.html
@@ -25,6 +25,9 @@ data-terminals-available="{{terminals_available}}"
         <div id="notebooks" class="tab-pane active">
           <div id="notebook_toolbar" class="row">
             <div class="col-sm-8 no-padding">
+              <div class="dynamic-instructions">
+                Select items to perform actions on them.
+              </div>
               <div class="dynamic-buttons">
                   <button title="Duplicate selected" class="duplicate-button btn btn-default btn-xs">Duplicate</button>
                   <button title="Rename selected" class="rename-button btn btn-default btn-xs">Rename</button>