diff --git a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
index 28b1742621..638db228cd 100644
--- a/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
+++ b/cms/djangoapps/contentstore/views.py
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ from cache_toolbox.core import set_cached_content, get_cached_content, del_cache
 from auth.authz import is_user_in_course_group_role, get_users_in_course_group_by_role
 from auth.authz import get_user_by_email, add_user_to_course_group, remove_user_from_course_group
 from auth.authz import INSTRUCTOR_ROLE_NAME, STAFF_ROLE_NAME, create_all_course_groups
-from .utils import get_course_location_for_item, get_lms_link_for_item, compute_unit_state, get_date_display
+from .utils import get_course_location_for_item, get_lms_link_for_item, compute_unit_state, get_date_display, UnitState
 
 from xmodule.templates import all_templates
 from xmodule.modulestore.xml_importer import import_from_xml
@@ -214,6 +214,13 @@ def edit_subsection(request, location):
     policy_metadata = dict((key,value) for key, value in item.metadata.iteritems() 
         if key not in ['display_name', 'start', 'due', 'format'] and key not in item.system_metadata_fields)
 
+    can_view_live = False
+    for unit in item.get_children():
+        state = compute_unit_state(unit)
+        if state == UnitState.public or state == UnitState.draft:
+            can_view_live = True
+            break
+
     return render_to_response('edit_subsection.html',
                               {'subsection': item,
                                'context_course': course,
@@ -221,7 +228,8 @@ def edit_subsection(request, location):
                                'lms_link': lms_link,
                                'preview_link': preview_link,
                                'parent_item': parent,
-                               'policy_metadata' : policy_metadata
+                               'policy_metadata' : policy_metadata,
+                               'can_view_live' : can_view_live
                                })
 
 
diff --git a/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html b/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
index 15753e9720..4eb8210816 100644
--- a/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
+++ b/cms/templates/edit_subsection.html
@@ -95,7 +95,9 @@
     <div class="row unit-actions">
       <a href="#" class="save-button save-subsection" data-id="${subsection.location}">Save</a>
       <a href="${preview_link}" target="_blank" class="preview-button">Preview Drafts</a>
+      %if can_view_live:
       <a href="${lms_link}" target="_blank" class="preview-button">View Live</a>
+      %endif
     </div>
       </div>
     </div>