diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 2bb2ce3..3747cb2 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -58,7 +58,6 @@ export default function applyConfig(config) {
     },
   };
 
-  config.viewlets = config.viewlets || [];
   config.addonReducers = { ...config.addonReducers, ...reducers };
 
   // export const portlets = {
diff --git a/src/localconfig.js b/src/localconfig.js
index 5cc346a..be43b7e 100644
--- a/src/localconfig.js
+++ b/src/localconfig.js
@@ -63,7 +63,10 @@ function addViewlets(config) {
     config.viewlets.push({ path: '/', component: ForestMetadata });
   }
   if (!config.viewlets) {
-    config.viewlets = [{ path: '/', component: ForestMetadata }];
+    config = {
+      ...config,
+      viewlets: [{ path: '/', component: ForestMetadata }],
+    };
   }
 }