diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5e46e757d0..cc3ab2c2cf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -134,6 +134,8 @@ For a good example, see https://riot.im/develop/config.json.
    in the `labs` section of settings.  The available optional experimental features vary from
    release to release. Some of the available features are described in the Labs Feature section
    of this README.
+1. `showLabsSettings`: Shows the "labs" tab of user settings even when no `features` are enabled
+   or present. Useful for getting at settings which may be otherwise hidden.
 1. `brand`: String to pass to your homeserver when configuring email notifications, to let the
    homeserver know what email template to use when talking to you.
 1. `branding`: Configures various branding and logo details, such as:
diff --git a/config.sample.json b/config.sample.json
index beb9c9f0ab..db1d25d1d2 100644
--- a/config.sample.json
+++ b/config.sample.json
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
     "integrations_rest_url": "https://scalar.vector.im/api",
     "integrations_jitsi_widget_url": "https://scalar.vector.im/api/widgets/jitsi.html",
     "bug_report_endpoint_url": "https://riot.im/bugreports/submit",
+    "showLabsSettings": false,
     "features": {
         "feature_groups": "labs",
         "feature_pinning": "labs",
diff --git a/src/vector/platform/ElectronPlatform.js b/src/vector/platform/ElectronPlatform.js
index fcab36ac39..04f472d645 100644
--- a/src/vector/platform/ElectronPlatform.js
+++ b/src/vector/platform/ElectronPlatform.js
@@ -141,14 +141,12 @@ export default class ElectronPlatform extends VectorBasePlatform {
         }
 
         // Notifications in Electron use the HTML5 notification API
-        const notification = new global.Notification(
-            title,
-            {
-                body: msg,
-                icon: avatarUrl,
-                silent: true, // we play our own sounds
-            },
-        );
+        const notifBody = {
+            body: msg,
+            silent: true, // we play our own sounds
+        };
+        if (avatarUrl) notifBody['icon'] = avatarUrl;
+        const notification = new global.Notification(title, notifBody);
 
         notification.onclick = () => {
             dis.dispatch({
diff --git a/src/vector/platform/WebPlatform.js b/src/vector/platform/WebPlatform.js
index d850dd6ddd..984aa8da3a 100644
--- a/src/vector/platform/WebPlatform.js
+++ b/src/vector/platform/WebPlatform.js
@@ -76,15 +76,13 @@ export default class WebPlatform extends VectorBasePlatform {
     }
 
     displayNotification(title: string, msg: string, avatarUrl: string, room: Object) {
-        const notification = new global.Notification(
-            title,
-            {
-                body: msg,
-                icon: avatarUrl,
-                tag: "vector",
-                silent: true, // we play our own sounds
-            },
-        );
+        const notifBody = {
+            body: msg,
+            tag: "vector",
+            silent: true, // we play our own sounds
+        };
+        if (avatarUrl) notifBody['icon'] = avatarUrl;
+        const notification = new global.Notification(title, notifBody);
 
         notification.onclick = function() {
             dis.dispatch({