diff --git a/angularjs-portal-home/src/main/webapp/main.js b/angularjs-portal-home/src/main/webapp/main.js
index f1fd52420..6f73a4a14 100644
--- a/angularjs-portal-home/src/main/webapp/main.js
+++ b/angularjs-portal-home/src/main/webapp/main.js
@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ require(['./config', './js/login-config'], function(config, loginConfig) {
               if (response.data.username === 'guest') {
                 $rootScope.GuestMode = true;
               }
+              //for some really weird reason the $sessionStorage here isn't being
+              //persisted to real session storage, so we have to do it manually.
+              $sessionStorage.$apply();
+              }
             }
           });
         } else {