diff --git a/lcviz/plugins/ephemeris/ephemeris.py b/lcviz/plugins/ephemeris/ephemeris.py
index 564277c5..2f263ac0 100644
--- a/lcviz/plugins/ephemeris/ephemeris.py
+++ b/lcviz/plugins/ephemeris/ephemeris.py
@@ -294,7 +294,8 @@ def create_phase_viewer(self, ephem_component=None):
         phase_viewer_id = self._generate_phase_viewer_id(ephem_component)
         # TODO: stack horizontally by default?
         self.app._on_new_viewer(NewViewerMessage(PhaseScatterView, data=None, sender=self.app),
-                                vid=phase_viewer_id, name=phase_viewer_id)
+                                vid=phase_viewer_id, name=phase_viewer_id,
+                                open_data_menu_if_empty=False)
 
         # access new viewer, set bookkeeping for ephemeris component
         pv = self.app.get_viewer(phase_viewer_id)