diff --git a/lib/minimap-element.coffee b/lib/minimap-element.coffee
index 99d4c277..2361e62b 100644
--- a/lib/minimap-element.coffee
+++ b/lib/minimap-element.coffee
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class MinimapElement extends HTMLElement
 
     @observeConfig
       'minimap.displayMinimapOnLeft': (displayMinimapOnLeft) =>
-        swapPosition = @attached and displayMinimapOnLeft isnt @displayMinimapOnLeft
+        swapPosition = @minimap? and displayMinimapOnLeft isnt @displayMinimapOnLeft
         @displayMinimapOnLeft = displayMinimapOnLeft
 
         @swapMinimapPosition() if swapPosition
diff --git a/spec/minimap-element-spec.coffee b/spec/minimap-element-spec.coffee
index 48255f72..6d03e9b3 100644
--- a/spec/minimap-element-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/minimap-element-spec.coffee
@@ -428,12 +428,29 @@ describe 'MinimapElement', ->
         expect(minimapElement.requestForcedUpdate).toHaveBeenCalled()
 
     describe 'when minimap.displayMinimapOnLeft setting is true', ->
-      beforeEach ->
-        atom.config.set 'minimap.displayMinimapOnLeft', true
-
       it 'moves the attached minimap to the left', ->
+        atom.config.set 'minimap.displayMinimapOnLeft', true
         expect(Array::indexOf.call(editorElement.shadowRoot.children, minimapElement)).toEqual(0)
 
+      describe 'when the minimap is not attached yet', ->
+        beforeEach ->
+          editor = new TextEditor({})
+          editor.setLineHeightInPixels(10)
+          editor.setHeight(50)
+
+          minimap = new Minimap({textEditor: editor})
+
+          editorElement = atom.views.getView(editor)
+          minimapElement = atom.views.getView(minimap)
+
+          jasmineContent.insertBefore(editorElement, jasmineContent.firstChild)
+
+          atom.config.set 'minimap.displayMinimapOnLeft', true
+          minimapElement.attach()
+
+        it 'moves the attached minimap to the left', ->
+          expect(Array::indexOf.call(editorElement.shadowRoot.children, minimapElement)).toEqual(0)
+
     describe 'when minimap.adjustMinimapWidthToSoftWrap is true', ->
       [minimapWidth] = []
       beforeEach ->