diff --git a/public/assets/js/map_mqtt.js b/public/assets/js/map_mqtt.js
index 7f4191e9..40daf495 100644
--- a/public/assets/js/map_mqtt.js
+++ b/public/assets/js/map_mqtt.js
@@ -140,7 +140,9 @@ class MapEventHandler {
 
                 // TODO: cache rider availability status and check before displaying icon
                 // NOTE: code is already above, need to make it into a function and call it here
-                this.dashmap.putRiderAvailableMarker(chan_split[1], lat, lng);
+                if (display_marker) {
+                    this.dashmap.putRiderAvailableMarker(chan_split[1], lat, lng);
+                }
                 break;
             case "status":
                 console.log("got status for rider " + chan_split[1] + " - " + payload);