diff --git a/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/theme/pydata_sphinx_theme/sections/sidebar-primary.html b/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/theme/pydata_sphinx_theme/sections/sidebar-primary.html
index 378643bc4..a1b9ef9c3 100644
--- a/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/theme/pydata_sphinx_theme/sections/sidebar-primary.html
+++ b/src/pydata_sphinx_theme/theme/pydata_sphinx_theme/sections/sidebar-primary.html
@@ -37,7 +37,9 @@
       <div class="sidebar-primary-item">{%- include sidebartemplate %}</div>
     {%- endfor %}
   </div>
-  {# add the rtd flyout in the sidebar if existing #}
-  <div id="rtd-footer-container"></div>
+  {# add the rtd flyout in the sidebar if building on rtd #}
+  {% if READTHEDOCS %}
+    <div id="rtd-footer-container"></div>
+  {% endif %}
 {% endif %}
 {% endblock docs_sidebar %}
diff --git a/tests/test_build/sidebar_subpage.html b/tests/test_build/sidebar_subpage.html
index 54a4a2e49..fb97a037f 100644
--- a/tests/test_build/sidebar_subpage.html
+++ b/tests/test_build/sidebar_subpage.html
@@ -69,6 +69,4 @@
  </div>
  <div class="sidebar-primary-items__end sidebar-primary__section">
  </div>
- <div id="rtd-footer-container">
- </div>
 </div>