diff --git a/grails-app/views/public/_progress.gsp b/grails-app/views/public/_progress.gsp
index 7b8e251a..24f3edfa 100644
--- a/grails-app/views/public/_progress.gsp
+++ b/grails-app/views/public/_progress.gsp
@@ -33,8 +33,8 @@ function setPercentAgeNumbers(totalBiocacheRecords, totalRecords) {
         }
         setProgress(percent);
     } else {
-        // to update the speedo caption
-        setProgress(0);
+        // the progress bar doesn't make sense if there is no estimated speciemens count
+        $('#progress').hide();
     }
 }