diff --git a/src/RootViewModel.js b/src/RootViewModel.js
index be416df..2cc1070 100644
--- a/src/RootViewModel.js
+++ b/src/RootViewModel.js
@@ -35,10 +35,13 @@ export class RootViewModel extends ViewModel {
         });
     }
 
-    _updateChildVMs(oldLink) {
-        if (!oldLink || !oldLink.equals(this.link)) {
+    _updateChildVMs(newLink, oldLink) {
+        this.link = newLink;
+        if (!newLink) {
+            this.openLinkViewModel = null;
+        } else if (!oldLink || !oldLink.equals(newLink)) {
             this.openLinkViewModel = new OpenLinkViewModel(this.childOptions({
-                link: this.link,
+                link: newLink,
                 clients: createClients(),
             }));
         }
@@ -51,28 +54,27 @@ export class RootViewModel extends ViewModel {
     }
 
     updateHash(hash) {
-        // All view models except openLink are re-created anyway.
-        // Might as well clear them to avoid having to
-        // manually reset (n-1)/n view models in every case.
+        // All view models except openLink are re-created anyway. Might as well
+        // clear them to avoid having to manually reset (n-1)/n view models in every case.
+        // That just doesn't scale well when we add new views.
         const oldLink = this.link;
-        this.link = null;
         this.showDisclaimer = false;
         this.loadServerPolicyViewModel = null;
         this.createLinkViewModel = null;
+        let newLink;
         if (hash.startsWith("#/policy/")) {
             const server = hash.substr(9);
-            this.openLinkViewModel = null;
+            this._updateChildVMs(null, oldLink);
             this.loadServerPolicyViewModel = new LoadServerPolicyViewModel(this.childOptions({server}));
             this.loadServerPolicyViewModel.load();
         } else if (hash.startsWith("#/disclaimer/")) {
-            this.openLinkViewModel = null;
+            this._updateChildVMs(null, oldLink);
             this.showDisclaimer = true;
         }  else if (hash === "" || hash === "#" || hash === "#/") {
-            this.openLinkViewModel = null;
+            this._updateChildVMs(null, oldLink);
             this.createLinkViewModel = new CreateLinkViewModel(this.childOptions());
-        } else if (this.link = Link.parse(hash)) {
-            this.link = Link.parse(hash);
-            this._updateChildVMs(oldLink);
+        } else if (newLink = Link.parse(hash)) {
+            this._updateChildVMs(newLink, oldLink);
         }
         this.emitChange();
     }