diff --git a/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.es6.js b/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.es6.js
index f715fc7fc9..cf795b5764 100644
--- a/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.es6.js
+++ b/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.es6.js
@@ -141,9 +141,13 @@
         // defined then show the tray of the first toolbar tab by default (but
         // not the first 'Home' toolbar tab).
         if (Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.get('orientation') === 'horizontal' && Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.get('activeTab') === null) {
-          Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.set({
-            activeTab: $('.toolbar-bar .toolbar-tab:not(.home-toolbar-tab) a').get(0),
-          });
+          const firstItem = $('.toolbar-bar .toolbar-tab:not(.home-toolbar-tab) a');
+          const attr = firstItem.attr('data-toolbar-tray');
+          if (attr !== undefined) {
+            Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.set({
+              activeTab: firstItem.get(0),
+            });
+          }
         }
       });
     },
diff --git a/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.js b/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.js
index 547bcd9bac..424d87ccbe 100644
--- a/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.js
+++ b/core/modules/toolbar/js/toolbar.js
@@ -95,9 +95,13 @@
         });
 
         if (Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.get('orientation') === 'horizontal' && Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.get('activeTab') === null) {
-          Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.set({
-            activeTab: $('.toolbar-bar .toolbar-tab:not(.home-toolbar-tab) a').get(0)
-          });
+          var firstItem = $('.toolbar-bar .toolbar-tab:not(.home-toolbar-tab) a');
+          var attr = firstItem.attr('data-toolbar-tray');
+          if (attr !== undefined) {
+            Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.set({
+              activeTab: firstItem.get(0)
+            });
+          }
         }
       });
     }
diff --git a/core/modules/toolbar/tests/modules/toolbar_test/toolbar_test.module b/core/modules/toolbar/tests/modules/toolbar_test/toolbar_test.module
index 323af166c6..37dcef44bb 100644
--- a/core/modules/toolbar/tests/modules/toolbar_test/toolbar_test.module
+++ b/core/modules/toolbar/tests/modules/toolbar_test/toolbar_test.module
@@ -45,5 +45,23 @@ function toolbar_test_toolbar() {
     '#weight' => 50,
   ];
 
+  if (\Drupal::state()->get('toolbar_test__testing_item_enabled', FALSE)) {
+    $items['testing_item'] = [
+      '#type' => 'toolbar_item',
+      'tab' => [
+        '#type' => 'link',
+        '#title' => t('Test item'),
+        '#url' => Url::fromRoute('<front>'),
+        '#options' => [
+          'attributes' => [
+            'id' => 'toolbar-item-testing',
+            'title' => t('Test item'),
+          ],
+        ],
+      ],
+      '#weight' => -50,
+    ];
+  }
+
   return $items;
 }
diff --git a/core/modules/toolbar/tests/src/FunctionalJavascript/ToolbarIntegrationTest.php b/core/modules/toolbar/tests/src/FunctionalJavascript/ToolbarIntegrationTest.php
index c3b3d9abc6..f9830018df 100644
--- a/core/modules/toolbar/tests/src/FunctionalJavascript/ToolbarIntegrationTest.php
+++ b/core/modules/toolbar/tests/src/FunctionalJavascript/ToolbarIntegrationTest.php
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class ToolbarIntegrationTest extends JavascriptTestBase {
   /**
    * {@inheritdoc}
    */
-  public static $modules = ['toolbar', 'node'];
+  public static $modules = ['toolbar', 'node', 'toolbar_test'];
 
   /**
    * Tests if the toolbar can be toggled with JavaScript.
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ public function testToolbarToggling() {
     $this->drupalGet('<front>');
     $page = $this->getSession()->getPage();
 
+    $session = $this->getSession();
+    $result = $session->evaluateScript("Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.get('activeTab').id");
+    // Ensure that the administration toolbar tab is active by default.
+    $this->assertEquals('toolbar-item-administration', $result);
+
     // Test that it is possible to toggle the toolbar tray.
     $content = $page->findLink('Content');
     $this->assertTrue($content->isVisible(), 'Toolbar tray is open by default.');
@@ -40,6 +45,7 @@ public function testToolbarToggling() {
 
     // Test toggling the toolbar tray between horizontal and vertical.
     $tray = $page->findById('toolbar-item-administration-tray');
+    $this->createScreenshot('/tmp/foo.png');
     $this->assertFalse($tray->hasClass('toolbar-tray-vertical'), 'Toolbar tray is not vertically oriented by default.');
     $page->pressButton('Vertical orientation');
     $this->assertTrue($tray->hasClass('toolbar-tray-vertical'), 'After toggling the orientation the toolbar tray is now displayed vertically.');
@@ -48,4 +54,25 @@ public function testToolbarToggling() {
     $this->assertTrue($tray->hasClass('toolbar-tray-horizontal'), 'After toggling the orientation a second time the toolbar tray is displayed horizontally again.');
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Tests a toolbar with the first item being only an item.
+   */
+  public function testToolbarItem() {
+    \Drupal::state()->set('toolbar_test__testing_item_enabled', TRUE);
+    $admin_user = $this->drupalCreateUser([
+      'access toolbar',
+      'administer site configuration',
+      'access content overview',
+    ]);
+    $this->drupalLogin($admin_user);
+
+    $this->drupalGet('<front>');
+    $this->getSession()->getPage();
+
+    $session = $this->getSession();
+    $result = $session->evaluateScript("Drupal.toolbar.models.toolbarModel.get('activeTab');");
+    // Ensure that there is not active tab by default.
+    $this->assertNull($result);
+  }
+
 }