diff --git a/ankiqt/ui/main.py b/ankiqt/ui/main.py
index 575c939ae..f30c03013 100644
--- a/ankiqt/ui/main.py
+++ b/ankiqt/ui/main.py
@@ -1621,7 +1621,6 @@ day = :d""", d=yesterday)
         self.moveToState("initial")
 
     def setSyncStatus(self, text, *args):
-        self.setStatus(text, *args)
         self.mainWin.welcomeText.append("<font size=+2>" + text + "</font>")
 
     def syncClockOff(self, diff):
diff --git a/ankiqt/ui/status.py b/ankiqt/ui/status.py
index 2c6dec671..4d813410b 100644
--- a/ankiqt/ui/status.py
+++ b/ankiqt/ui/status.py
@@ -110,7 +110,8 @@ class StatusView(object):
         self.timer.setText("00:00")
         self.addWidget(self.timer)
         self.redraw()
-        self.timer.setShown(self.main.config['showTimer'])
+        if not self.main.config['showTimer']:
+            self.timer.setShown(False)
 
     def addWidget(self, w, stretch=0):
         self.statusbar.addWidget(w, stretch)