diff --git a/ctools.module b/ctools.module
index b5ab626..26ba321 100644
--- a/ctools.module
+++ b/ctools.module
@@ -638,7 +638,26 @@ function ctools_preprocess_node(&$vars) {
   }
 }
 
+
+/**
+ * Implements hook_page_alter().
+ *
+ * Last ditch attempt to remove sidebar regions if the "no blocks"
+ * functionality has been activated.
+ *
+ * @see ctools_block_list_alter().
+ */
 function ctools_page_alter(&$page) {
+  $check = drupal_static('ctools_set_no_blocks', TRUE);
+  if (!$check) {
+    foreach ($page as $region_id => $region) {
+      // @todo -- possibly we can set configuration for this so that users can
+      // specify which blocks will not get rendered.
+      if (strpos($region_id, 'sidebar') !== FALSE) {
+        unset($page[$region_id]);
+      }
+    }
+  }
   $page['#post_render'][] = 'ctools_page_token_processing';
 }