diff --git a/static/js/search_pill_widget.js b/static/js/search_pill_widget.js
index b4b2d76624..711fa443aa 100644
--- a/static/js/search_pill_widget.js
+++ b/static/js/search_pill_widget.js
@@ -1,6 +1,15 @@
 var search_pill_widget = (function () {
 
 var exports = {};
+
+exports.initialize = function () {
+    if (!page_params.search_pills_enabled) {
+        return;
+    }
+    var container = $('#search_arrows');
+    exports.my_pill = search_pill.create_pills(container);
+};
+
 return exports;
 }());
 
diff --git a/static/js/ui_init.js b/static/js/ui_init.js
index 999f3bf53b..3c4ae6e5f9 100644
--- a/static/js/ui_init.js
+++ b/static/js/ui_init.js
@@ -290,6 +290,7 @@ $(function () {
     server_events.initialize();
     people.initialize();
     compose_pm_pill.initialize();
+    search_pill_widget.initialize();
     reload.initialize();
     user_groups.initialize();
     unread.initialize();