diff --git a/lib/navigationlib.php b/lib/navigationlib.php
index c11e4578768..c0c33c2fec6 100644
--- a/lib/navigationlib.php
+++ b/lib/navigationlib.php
@@ -3152,6 +3152,9 @@ class navbar extends navigation_node {
 
         // Check if navigation contains the active node
         if (!$this->ignoreactive) {
+            // We will need to ensure the navigation has been initialised.
+            $this->page->navigation->initialise($this->page);
+            // Now find the active nodes on both the navigation and settings.
             $navigationactivenode = $this->page->navigation->find_active_node();
             $settingsactivenode = $this->page->settingsnav->find_active_node();