diff --git a/src/components/tree/phyloTree/change.js b/src/components/tree/phyloTree/change.js
index dc6893146..b32e95628 100644
--- a/src/components/tree/phyloTree/change.js
+++ b/src/components/tree/phyloTree/change.js
@@ -357,10 +357,12 @@ export const change = function change({
   // todo: this is fairly slow: show something to show recalculating? or, get the d3 transition working?
   if (splitTreeByTrait) {
     setSplitTreeYValues(this.nodes, splitTreeByTrait);
+    this.params.isTreeSplitByTrait = true;
   }
   else if (resetTreeYValues)
   {
     setYValues(this.nodes);
+    this.params.isTreeSplitByTrait = false;
   }
 
   /* run calculations as needed - these update properties on the phylotreeNodes (similar to updateNodesWithNewData) */
diff --git a/src/components/tree/phyloTree/renderers.js b/src/components/tree/phyloTree/renderers.js
index 3c8b1ded9..d7e3df0b4 100644
--- a/src/components/tree/phyloTree/renderers.js
+++ b/src/components/tree/phyloTree/renderers.js
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ export const drawBranches = function drawBranches() {
   if (!("branchTee" in this.groups)) {
     this.groups.branchTee = this.svg.append("g").attr("id", "branchTee");
   }
-  if (this.layout === "clock" || this.layout === "unrooted") {
+  if (this.layout === "clock" || this.layout === "unrooted" || params.isTreeSplitByTrait) {
     this.groups.branchTee.selectAll("*").remove();
   } else {
     this.groups.branchTee