diff --git a/www/common/common-ui-elements.js b/www/common/common-ui-elements.js
index 8890fe1f9..286fb84d6 100644
--- a/www/common/common-ui-elements.js
+++ b/www/common/common-ui-elements.js
@@ -951,6 +951,7 @@ define([
             $container.append($avatar);
             if (cb) { cb(); }
         };
+        if (!window.Symbol) { return void displayDefault(); } // IE doesn't have Symbol
         if (!href) { return void displayDefault(); }
         var parsed = Hash.parsePadUrl(href);
         var secret = Hash.getSecrets('file', parsed.hash);