diff --git a/Tusker/Screens/Main/MainSplitViewController.swift b/Tusker/Screens/Main/MainSplitViewController.swift
index cc9555235b..a66a0c45c7 100644
--- a/Tusker/Screens/Main/MainSplitViewController.swift
+++ b/Tusker/Screens/Main/MainSplitViewController.swift
@@ -53,7 +53,11 @@ class MainSplitViewController: UISplitViewController {
         primaryBackgroundStyle = .sidebar
 
         setViewController(EnhancedNavigationViewController(), for: .secondary)
-        select(item: .tab(.timelines))
+        // don't unnecesarily construct a content VC unless the we're in actually split mode
+        // when we change from compact -> split for the first time, the VC will be transferred anyways
+        if traitCollection.horizontalSizeClass != .compact {
+            select(item: .tab(.timelines))
+        }
         
         tabBarViewController = MainTabBarViewController(mastodonController: mastodonController)
         setViewController(tabBarViewController, for: .compact)