diff --git a/mobile/chrome/content/tabs.xml b/mobile/chrome/content/tabs.xml
index 8e76e91f23cb..9b7662132c34 100644
--- a/mobile/chrome/content/tabs.xml
+++ b/mobile/chrome/content/tabs.xml
@@ -206,7 +206,9 @@
             },
 
             dragMove: function dragMove(dx, dy) {
-              if (!this._grabSidebar) {
+              let ltr = (Util.localeDir == Util.LOCALE_DIR_LTR);
+              let hiddingPan = ltr ? (dx > 0) : (dx < 0);
+              if (!this._grabSidebar && hiddingPan) {
                 this._grabSidebar = dx && Util.isTablet() && !Util.isPortrait();
                 if (this._grabSidebar)
                   Browser.grabSidebar();