diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/index.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/index.js
index 119c071e3866d..cbfa41f8d1675 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/index.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/index.js
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 import { connect } from 'react-redux';
 import { compose, branch, renderComponent } from 'recompose';
-import { initializeWorkpad } from '../../../state/actions/workpad';
 import { selectElement } from '../../../state/actions/transient';
 import { canUserWrite, getAppReady } from '../../../state/selectors/app';
 import { getWorkpad, isWriteable } from '../../../state/selectors/workpad';
@@ -24,9 +23,6 @@ const mapStateToProps = state => {
 };
 
 const mapDispatchToProps = dispatch => ({
-  initializeWorkpad() {
-    dispatch(initializeWorkpad());
-  },
   deselectElement(ev) {
     ev && ev.stopPropagation();
     dispatch(selectElement(null));
diff --git a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/workpad_app.js b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/workpad_app.js
index 49ef7ed97e07f..664c071cd0cd2 100644
--- a/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/workpad_app.js
+++ b/x-pack/plugins/canvas/public/apps/workpad/workpad_app/workpad_app.js
@@ -15,13 +15,8 @@ export class WorkpadApp extends React.PureComponent {
   static propTypes = {
     isWriteable: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
     deselectElement: PropTypes.func,
-    initializeWorkpad: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   };
 
-  componentDidMount() {
-    this.props.initializeWorkpad();
-  }
-
   render() {
     const { isWriteable, deselectElement } = this.props;