diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/fixtures/certificates.py b/common/test/acceptance/fixtures/certificates.py
index f12573cad9..346037801d 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/fixtures/certificates.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/fixtures/certificates.py
@@ -15,6 +15,13 @@ class CertificateConfigFixtureError(Exception):
     pass
 
 
+class CertificateConfigUpdateFixtureError(Exception):
+    """
+    Error occurred while updating certificate config fixture.
+    """
+    pass
+
+
 class CertificateConfigFixture(StudioApiFixture):
     """
     Fixture to create certificates configuration for a course
@@ -44,3 +51,22 @@ class CertificateConfigFixture(StudioApiFixture):
             )
 
         return self
+
+    def update_certificate(self, certificate_id):
+        """
+        Update the certificates config data to certificate endpoint.
+        """
+        response = self.session.put(
+            '{}/certificates/{}/{}'.format(STUDIO_BASE_URL, self.course_id, certificate_id),
+            data=json.dumps(self.certificates),
+            headers=self.headers
+        )
+
+        if not response.ok:
+            raise CertificateConfigUpdateFixtureError(
+                "Could not update certificate {0}.  Status was {1}".format(
+                    json.dumps(self.certificates), response.status_code
+                )
+            )
+
+        return self
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/instructor_dashboard.py b/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/instructor_dashboard.py
index 83e4292896..977d391b87 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/instructor_dashboard.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/pages/lms/instructor_dashboard.py
@@ -1056,6 +1056,13 @@ class CertificatesPage(PageObject):
         """
         return self.get_selector('#btn-start-generating-certificates')
 
+    @property
+    def generate_certificates_disabled_button(self):  # pylint: disable=invalid-name
+        """
+        Returns the disabled state of button
+        """
+        return self.get_selector('#disabled-btn-start-generating-certificates')
+
     @property
     def certificate_generation_status(self):
         """
diff --git a/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms_instructor_dashboard.py b/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms_instructor_dashboard.py
index 93f2043b2d..0b2201c5e6 100644
--- a/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms_instructor_dashboard.py
+++ b/common/test/acceptance/tests/lms/test_lms_instructor_dashboard.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from ...pages.lms.problem import ProblemPage
 from ...pages.lms.track_selection import TrackSelectionPage
 from ...pages.lms.pay_and_verify import PaymentAndVerificationFlow, FakePaymentPage
 from common.test.acceptance.tests.helpers import disable_animations
+from ...fixtures.certificates import CertificateConfigFixture
 
 
 class BaseInstructorDashboardTest(EventsTestMixin, UniqueCourseTest):
@@ -589,12 +590,37 @@ class CertificatesTest(BaseInstructorDashboardTest):
 
     def setUp(self):
         super(CertificatesTest, self).setUp()
-        self.course_fixture = CourseFixture(**self.course_info).install()
+        self.test_certificate_config = {
+            'id': 1,
+            'name': 'Certificate name',
+            'description': 'Certificate description',
+            'course_title': 'Course title override',
+            'signatories': [],
+            'version': 1,
+            'is_active': True
+        }
+        CourseFixture(**self.course_info).install()
+        self.cert_fixture = CertificateConfigFixture(self.course_id, self.test_certificate_config)
+        self.cert_fixture.install()
         self.user_name, self.user_id = self.log_in_as_instructor()
         self.instructor_dashboard_page = self.visit_instructor_dashboard()
         self.certificates_section = self.instructor_dashboard_page.select_certificates()
         disable_animations(self.certificates_section)
 
+    def test_generate_certificates_buttons_is_disable(self):
+        """
+        Scenario: On the Certificates tab of the Instructor Dashboard, Generate Certificates button is disable.
+            Given that I am on the Certificates tab on the Instructor Dashboard
+            The instructor-generation and cert_html_view_enabled feature flags have been enabled
+            But the certificate is not active in settings.
+            Then I see a 'Generate Certificates' button disabled
+        """
+        self.test_certificate_config['is_active'] = False
+        self.cert_fixture.update_certificate(1)
+        self.browser.refresh()
+        self.assertFalse(self.certificates_section.generate_certificates_button.visible)
+        self.assertTrue(self.certificates_section.generate_certificates_disabled_button.visible)
+
     def test_generate_certificates_buttons_is_visible(self):
         """
         Scenario: On the Certificates tab of the Instructor Dashboard, Generate Certificates button is visible.
diff --git a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py
index 8034d3d0cf..c967476f2a 100644
--- a/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py
+++ b/lms/djangoapps/instructor/views/instructor_dashboard.py
@@ -299,6 +299,7 @@ def _section_certificates(course):
         'enabled_for_course': certs_api.cert_generation_enabled(course.id),
         'instructor_generation_enabled': instructor_generation_enabled,
         'html_cert_enabled': html_cert_enabled,
+        'active_certificate': certs_api.get_active_web_certificate(course),
         'certificate_statuses': GeneratedCertificate.get_unique_statuses(course_key=course.id),
         'urls': {
             'generate_example_certificates': reverse(
diff --git a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/certificates.html b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/certificates.html
index 43f039308d..bc3060f060 100644
--- a/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/certificates.html
+++ b/lms/templates/instructor/instructor_dashboard_2/certificates.html
@@ -73,7 +73,12 @@ import json
         <div class="start-certificate-generation">
             <h2>${_("Generate Certificates")}</h2>
             <form id="certificates-generating-form" method="post" action="${section_data['urls']['start_certificate_generation']}">
-                <input type="button" id="btn-start-generating-certificates" value="${_('Generate Certificates')}" data-endpoint="${section_data['urls']['start_certificate_generation']}"/>
+                % if section_data['html_cert_enabled'] and section_data['active_certificate'] is None:
+                    <p>${_("Course certificate generation requires an activated web certificate configuration.")}</p>
+                    <input type="button" id="disabled-btn-start-generating-certificates" class="is-disabled" aria-disabled="true" value="${_('Generate Certificates')}"/>
+                % else:
+                    <input type="button" id="btn-start-generating-certificates" value="${_('Generate Certificates')}" data-endpoint="${section_data['urls']['start_certificate_generation']}"/>
+                %endif
             </form>
             <div class="certificate-generation-status"></div>
         </div>