diff --git a/www/drive/main.js b/www/drive/main.js
index f70791170..b93a4b774 100644
--- a/www/drive/main.js
+++ b/www/drive/main.js
@@ -1908,7 +1908,7 @@ define([
         });
 
         var createReadme = function (proxy, cb) {
-            if (proxy.initializing) {
+            if (sessionStorage.createReadme) {
                 var hash = Cryptpad.createRandomHash();
                 Get.put(hash, Messages.driveReadme, function (e) {
                     if (e) { logError(e); }
@@ -1922,7 +1922,7 @@ define([
                     });
                     if (typeof(cb) === "function") { cb(); }
                 });
-                delete proxy.initializing;
+                delete sessionStorage.createReadme;
                 return;
             }
             if (typeof(cb) === "function") { cb(); }
diff --git a/www/register/main.js b/www/register/main.js
index c41825595..e432830a8 100644
--- a/www/register/main.js
+++ b/www/register/main.js
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ define([
 
                 proxy.login_name = uname;
                 proxy[Cryptpad.displayNameKey] = uname;
-                proxy.initializing = true;
+                sessionStorage.createReadme = 1;
 
                 Cryptpad.whenRealtimeSyncs(result.realtime, function () {
                     Cryptpad.login(result.userHash, result.userName, function () {