diff --git a/lib/shimmie.js b/lib/shimmie.js
index 5e6c85af..75d1a362 100644
--- a/lib/shimmie.js
+++ b/lib/shimmie.js
@@ -52,12 +52,17 @@ $(document).ready(function() {
 		}
 	});
 
-	var sidebar_hidden = ($.cookie("sidebar-hidden") || "").split("|");
-	for(var i in sidebar_hidden) {
-		if(sidebar_hidden[i].length > 0) {
-			$(sidebar_hidden[i]+" .blockbody").hide();
-		}
-	};
+	try {
+		var sidebar_hidden = ($.cookie("sidebar-hidden") || "").split("|");
+		for(var i in sidebar_hidden) {
+			if(sidebar_hidden[i].length > 0) {
+				$(sidebar_hidden[i]+" .blockbody").hide();
+			}
+		};
+	}
+	catch(err) {
+		var sidebar_hidden = [];
+	}
 	$(".shm-toggler").each(function(idx, elm) {
 		var tid = $(elm).data("toggle-sel");
 		var tob = $(tid+" .blockbody");