diff --git a/apps/files_external/css/settings.scss b/apps/files_external/css/settings.scss
index 2652edabc0e..369f48e6f8b 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/css/settings.scss
+++ b/apps/files_external/css/settings.scss
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@
 	/* overwrite conflicting core styles */
 	display: table-cell;
 	vertical-align: middle;
+	/* ensure width does not change even if internal span is not displayed */
+	width: 43px;
 }
 
 #externalStorage td.status > span {
diff --git a/apps/files_external/js/settings.js b/apps/files_external/js/settings.js
index fd1946b629c..b4e1cc04498 100644
--- a/apps/files_external/js/settings.js
+++ b/apps/files_external/js/settings.js
@@ -1316,6 +1316,7 @@ MountConfigListView.prototype = _.extend({
 		switch (status) {
 			case null:
 				// remove status
+				$statusSpan.hide();
 				break;
 			case StorageConfig.Status.IN_PROGRESS:
 				$statusSpan.attr('class', 'icon-loading-small');
@@ -1329,6 +1330,9 @@ MountConfigListView.prototype = _.extend({
 			default:
 				$statusSpan.attr('class', 'error icon-error-white');
 		}
+		if (status !== null) {
+			$statusSpan.show();
+		}
 		if (typeof message === 'string') {
 			$statusSpan.attr('title', message);
 		}