diff --git a/src/api/user/UserAPI.js b/src/api/user/UserAPI.js
index deb18ba99f..fbe8468510 100644
--- a/src/api/user/UserAPI.js
+++ b/src/api/user/UserAPI.js
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ class UserAPI extends EventEmitter {
      */
     setActiveRole(role) {
         SessionPersistance.setActiveRole(role);
+        this.emit('roleChanged', role);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/plugins/operatorStatus/operatorStatus/OperatorStatus.vue b/src/plugins/operatorStatus/operatorStatus/OperatorStatus.vue
index 7557bd5367..c9aeb30f49 100644
--- a/src/plugins/operatorStatus/operatorStatus/OperatorStatus.vue
+++ b/src/plugins/operatorStatus/operatorStatus/OperatorStatus.vue
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ export default {
     },
     data() {
         return {
-            allRoles: [],
             role: '--',
             pollQuestionUpdated: '--',
             currentPollQuestion: DEFAULT_POLL_QUESTION,
@@ -87,11 +86,15 @@ export default {
                 left: `${this.positionX}px`,
                 top: `${this.positionY}px`
             };
+        },
+        canProvideStatusForRole() {
+            return this.openmct.user.canProvideStatusForRole(this.role);
         }
     },
     beforeDestroy() {
         this.openmct.user.status.off('statusChange', this.setStatus);
         this.openmct.user.status.off('pollQuestionChange', this.setPollQuestion);
+        this.openmct.user.off('roleChanged', this.fetchMyStatus);
     },
     async mounted() {
         this.unsubscribe = [];
@@ -101,6 +104,7 @@ export default {
         await this.fetchMyStatus();
         this.subscribeToMyStatus();
         this.subscribeToPollQuestion();
+        this.subscribeToRoleChange();
     },
     methods: {
 
@@ -124,8 +128,16 @@ export default {
         },
         async fetchMyStatus() {
             const activeRole = await this.openmct.user.getActiveRole();
-            const status = await this.openmct.user.status.getStatusForRole(activeRole);
+            this.role = activeRole;
+            // hide indicator for observer
+            if (!this.openmct.user.canProvideStatusForRole()) {
+                this.indicator.text('');
+                this.indicator.statusClass('hidden');
 
+                return;
+            }
+
+            const status = await this.openmct.user.status.getStatusForRole(activeRole);
             if (status !== undefined) {
                 this.setStatus({status});
             }
@@ -136,7 +148,11 @@ export default {
         subscribeToPollQuestion() {
             this.openmct.user.status.on('pollQuestionChange', this.setPollQuestion);
         },
+        subscribeToRoleChange() {
+            this.openmct.user.on('roleChanged', this.fetchMyStatus);
+        },
         setStatus({status}) {
+            console.log('set Status firiging?')
             status = this.applyStyling(status);
             this.selectedStatus = status.key;
             this.indicator.iconClass(status.iconClassPoll);
diff --git a/src/plugins/operatorStatus/plugin.js b/src/plugins/operatorStatus/plugin.js
index 393d755132..8d9b66402e 100644
--- a/src/plugins/operatorStatus/plugin.js
+++ b/src/plugins/operatorStatus/plugin.js
@@ -30,14 +30,8 @@ export default function operatorStatusPlugin(configuration) {
     return function install(openmct) {
 
         if (openmct.user.hasProvider()) {
-            const activeRole = openmct.user.getActiveRole();
-            openmct.user.status.canProvideStatusForRole(activeRole).then(canProvideStatus => {
-                if (canProvideStatus) {
-                    const operatorStatusIndicator = new OperatorStatusIndicator(openmct, configuration);
-
-                    operatorStatusIndicator.install();
-                }
-            });
+            const operatorStatusIndicator = new OperatorStatusIndicator(openmct, configuration);
+            operatorStatusIndicator.install();
 
             openmct.user.status.canSetPollQuestion().then(canSetPollQuestion => {
                 if (canSetPollQuestion) {