diff --git a/src/plugins/console/public/src/directives/sense_navbar.js b/src/plugins/console/public/src/directives/sense_navbar.js
index 130529c09d019f..666dd3f0d1709d 100644
--- a/src/plugins/console/public/src/directives/sense_navbar.js
+++ b/src/plugins/console/public/src/directives/sense_navbar.js
@@ -16,14 +16,13 @@ require('ui/modules')
     },
     controllerAs: 'navbar',
     controller: class SenseNavbarController {
-      constructor($scope) {
+      constructor($scope, $timeout, $element) {
         $scope.chrome = require('ui/chrome');
 
         this.menu = [
           {
             key: 'welcome',
             noButton: true,
-            openByDefault: storage.get('version_welcome_shown') !== '@@SENSE_REVISION',
             template: `<sense-welcome></sense-welcome>`
           },
           {
@@ -43,6 +42,19 @@ require('ui/modules')
           },
         ];
 
+        $timeout(function tryToOpenWelcomeTemplate() {
+          if (storage.get('version_welcome_shown') === '@@SENSE_REVISION') {
+            return;
+          }
+
+          const $topNavScope = $element.find('kbn-top-nav').scope();
+          if ($topNavScope && $topNavScope.kbnTopNav) {
+            $topNavScope.kbnTopNav.open('welcome')
+          } else {
+            $timeout(tryToOpenWelcomeTemplate, 10);
+          }
+        }, 0)
+
         this.updateServerUrlHistory();
       }