diff --git a/platform/commonUI/edit/src/EditRepresenter.js b/platform/commonUI/edit/src/EditRepresenter.js
index bf3dfc721b..5e3f3a8606 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/edit/src/EditRepresenter.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/edit/src/EditRepresenter.js
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@ define(
                 key = (representation || {}).key;
                 // Track the represented object
                 domainObject = representedObject;
-
                 // Ensure existing watches are released
                 destroy();
             }
diff --git a/platform/commonUI/edit/src/representers/EditToolbarRepresenter.js b/platform/commonUI/edit/src/representers/EditToolbarRepresenter.js
index 8e4958d5df..63a4c9d3cd 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/edit/src/representers/EditToolbarRepresenter.js
+++ b/platform/commonUI/edit/src/representers/EditToolbarRepresenter.js
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ define(
                 toolbarObject.state = toolbar.getState();
             }
 
+            // Get state (to watch it)
+            function getState() {
+                return toolbarObject.state;
+            }
+
             // Update selection models to match changed toolbar state
             function updateState(state) {
                 // Update underlying state based on toolbar changes
@@ -52,8 +57,18 @@ define(
                 commit("Changes from toolbar.");
             }
 
+            function initialize() {
+                // If we have been asked to expose toolbar state...
+                if (attrs.toolbar) {
+                    // Expose toolbar state under that name
+                    scope.$parent[attrs.toolbar] = toolbarObject;
+                }
+            }
+
             // Represent a domain object using this definition
             function represent(representation) {
+                //
+                initialize();
                 // Clear any existing selection
                 scope.selection = [];
                 // Get the newest toolbar definition from the view
@@ -62,24 +77,19 @@ define(
                 updateSelection([]);
             }
 
-            // Destroy; stop watching the parent for changes in
-            // toolbar state.
+            // Destroy; remove toolbar object from parent scope
             function destroy() {
-                if (unwatch) {
-                    unwatch();
-                    unwatch = undefined;
+                // Clear exposed toolbar state (if any)
+                if (attrs.toolbar) {
+                    delete scope.$parent[attrs.toolbar];
                 }
             }
 
-            // If we have been asked to expose toolbar state...
+            // If this representation exposes a toolbar, set up watches
+            // to synchronize with it.
             if (attrs.toolbar) {
-                // Expose toolbar state under that name
-                scope.$parent[attrs.toolbar] = toolbarObject;
                 // Detect and handle changes to state from the toolbar
-                unwatch = scope.$parent.$watchCollection(
-                    attrs.toolbar + ".state",
-                    updateState
-                );
+                scope.$watchCollection(getState, updateState);
                 // Watch for changes in the current selection state
                 scope.$watchCollection("selection", updateSelection);
             }