diff --git a/Changelog.md b/Changelog.md
index f209f66f6..4caed69b8 100644
--- a/Changelog.md
+++ b/Changelog.md
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 
 ## Features
 
+Display hovercards without aspect dropdown when logged out [#6603](https://github.com/diaspora/diaspora/pull/6603)
+
 # 0.5.5.1
 
 * Fix XSS on profile pages
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view.js b/app/assets/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view.js
index 082984931..238952154 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view.js
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view.js
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ app.views.Hovercard = app.views.Base.extend({
     this.hashtags = this.$('.hashtags');
     this.person_link = this.$('a.person');
     this.person_handle = this.$('div.handle');
-    this.active = app.currentUser.authenticated();
+    this.active = true;
   },
 
   postRenderTemplate: function() {
@@ -126,6 +126,7 @@ app.views.Hovercard = app.views.Base.extend({
       return $('<a/>',{href: "/tags/"+tag.substring(1)}).text(tag)[0] ;
     })) );
 
+    if(!app.currentUser.authenticated()){ return; }
     // set aspect dropdown
     // TODO render me client side!!!
     var href = this.href();
diff --git a/app/controllers/people_controller.rb b/app/controllers/people_controller.rb
index b2343d941..154f43376 100644
--- a/app/controllers/people_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/people_controller.rb
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 #   the COPYRIGHT file.
 
 class PeopleController < ApplicationController
-  before_action :authenticate_user!, except: [:show, :stream]
-  before_action :find_person, only: [:show, :stream, :hovercard]
+  before_action :authenticate_user!, except: %i(show stream hovercard)
+  before_action :find_person, only: %i(show stream hovercard)
 
   respond_to :html, :except => [:tag_index]
   respond_to :json, :only => [:index, :show]
diff --git a/features/desktop/hovercards.feature b/features/desktop/hovercards.feature
index 77c56903b..9c510ab0d 100644
--- a/features/desktop/hovercards.feature
+++ b/features/desktop/hovercards.feature
@@ -6,15 +6,15 @@ Feature: Hovercards
 
   Background:
     Given a user named "Bob Jones" with email "bob@bob.bob"
-    And "bob@bob.bob" has a public post with text "public stuff"
+    And "bob@bob.bob" has a public post with text "public stuff #hashtag"
     And a user named "Alice" with email "alice@alice.alice"
     And "alice@alice.alice" has a public post with text "alice public stuff"
-    And the post with text "public stuff" is reshared by "alice@alice.alice"
+    And the post with text "public stuff #hashtag" is reshared by "alice@alice.alice"
     And the post with text "alice public stuff" is reshared by "bob@bob.bob"
-    And I sign in as "alice@alice.alice"
 
   Scenario: Hovercards on the main stream
-    Given I am on "bob@bob.bob"'s page
+    Given I sign in as "alice@alice.alice"
+    And I am on "bob@bob.bob"'s page
     Then I should see "public stuff" within ".stream_element"
     When I activate the first hovercard
     Then I should see a hovercard
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@ Feature: Hovercards
     Then I should not see a hovercard
 
   Scenario: Hovercards on the main stream in reshares
-    Given I am on "bob@bob.bob"'s page
+    Given I sign in as "alice@alice.alice"
+    And I am on "bob@bob.bob"'s page
     Then I should see "Alice" within "#main_stream"
     When I hover "Alice" within "#main_stream"
     Then I should not see a hovercard
@@ -30,3 +31,11 @@ Feature: Hovercards
     Then I should see "Bob Jones" within "#main_stream"
     When I hover "Bob Jones" within "#main_stream"
     Then I should see a hovercard
+
+  Scenario: Hovercards on the tag stream as a logged out user
+    Given I am on the tag page for "hashtag"
+    Then I should see "public stuff" within ".stream_element"
+    When I activate the first hovercard
+    Then I should see a hovercard
+    When I deactivate the first hovercard
+    Then I should not see a hovercard
diff --git a/spec/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view_spec.js b/spec/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view_spec.js
index 2e8cddee5..6f7e4c260 100644
--- a/spec/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view_spec.js
+++ b/spec/javascripts/app/views/hovercard_view_spec.js
@@ -5,9 +5,12 @@ describe("app.views.Hovercard", function() {
       this.view = new app.views.Hovercard();
     });
 
-    describe("initialize", function() {
-      it("deactivates hovercards", function() {
-        expect(this.view.active).toBeFalsy();
+    describe("_populateHovercardWith", function() {
+      it("doesn't fetch the aspect dropdown", function() {
+        spyOn(jQuery, "ajax").and.callThrough();
+        this.view.parent = spec.content();
+        this.view._populateHovercardWith({});
+        expect(jQuery.ajax).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
       });
     });
   });