diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index 3747cb2..2bb2ce3 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ 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 7b4cd78..1701f3c 100644
--- a/src/localconfig.js
+++ b/src/localconfig.js
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ export function applyConfig(config) {
   };
 
   config.viewlets = [
-    ...(config.viewlets || []),
+    ...config.viewlets,
     { path: '/', component: ForestMetadata },
   ];