diff --git a/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_board.bundle.js b/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_board.bundle.js
index fc93f2a910..703f49f205 100644
--- a/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_board.bundle.js
+++ b/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_board.bundle.js
@@ -328,9 +328,11 @@ frappe.provide("frappe.views");
 			}, show_empty_state);
 
 			if (frappe.model.can_write(store.state.doctype)) {
-				// Check for reference doctype access before initiating
-				// non-deliberate action
+				// Check for reference doctype access before trying to modify it's value
 				store.dispatch("update_order");
+			} else {
+				// Render columns without state change
+				make_columns();
 			}
 		}
 
diff --git a/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_view.js b/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_view.js
index 7ba15d7270..fb15131394 100644
--- a/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_view.js
+++ b/frappe/public/js/frappe/views/kanban/kanban_view.js
@@ -45,6 +45,16 @@ frappe.views.KanbanView = class KanbanView extends frappe.views.ListView {
 		});
 	}
 
+	init() {
+		return super.init().then(() => {
+			let menu_length = this.page.menu.find(".dropdown-item").length;
+			if (menu_length === 1) {
+				// Only 'Refresh' (hidden) is present (always), dropdown is visibly empty
+				this.page.hide_menu();
+			}
+		});
+	}
+
 	setup_defaults() {
 		return super.setup_defaults().then(() => {
 			let get_board_name = () => {