diff --git a/core/modules/contextual/js/contextual.js b/core/modules/contextual/js/contextual.js
index 7f93a15..dffe910 100644
--- a/core/modules/contextual/js/contextual.js
+++ b/core/modules/contextual/js/contextual.js
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@
    *   The server-side rendered HTML for this contextual link.
    */
   function initContextual($contextual, html) {
+    if ($(html).find('a').length === 0) {
+      return;
+    }
     var $region = $contextual.closest('.contextual-region');
     var contextual = Drupal.contextual;