diff --git a/quartz/components/Backlinks.tsx b/quartz/components/Backlinks.tsx
index 85bd35b80..e99055e31 100644
--- a/quartz/components/Backlinks.tsx
+++ b/quartz/components/Backlinks.tsx
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ interface BacklinksOptions {
 }
 
 const defaultOptions: BacklinksOptions = {
-  hideWhenEmpty: false,
+  hideWhenEmpty: true,
 }
 
 export default ((opts?: Partial<BacklinksOptions>) => {