diff --git a/code/smartphone.js b/code/smartphone.js
index d01d2545..c9133aab 100644
--- a/code/smartphone.js
+++ b/code/smartphone.js
@@ -144,9 +144,6 @@ window.runOnSmartphonesAfterBoot = function() {
     $("body").on("click", "select", function() {
       android.spinnerEnabled(true);
     });
-    $("body").on("focus", "select", function() {
-      android.spinnerEnabled(false);
-    });
   }
 
   // add event to portals that allows long press to switch to sidebar
diff --git a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_JSInterface.java b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_JSInterface.java
index cd7aee85..78080700 100644
--- a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_JSInterface.java
+++ b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_JSInterface.java
@@ -46,7 +46,6 @@ public class IITC_JSInterface {
     // prevent the spinner from closing automatically
     @JavascriptInterface
     public void spinnerEnabled(boolean en) {
-        Log.d("disableJS? " + en);
         mIitc.getWebView().disableJS(en);
     }
 
diff --git a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_WebView.java b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_WebView.java
index 19781705..9963e432 100644
--- a/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_WebView.java
+++ b/mobile/src/com/cradle/iitc_mobile/IITC_WebView.java
@@ -171,6 +171,8 @@ public class IITC_WebView extends WebView {
     public void onWindowFocusChanged(final boolean hasWindowFocus) {
         if (hasWindowFocus) {
             getHandler().postDelayed(mNavHider, 3000);
+            // if the webView has focus, JS should always be enabled
+            mDisableJs = false;
         } else {
             getHandler().removeCallbacks(mNavHider);
         }