diff --git a/awx/ui/static/js/app.js b/awx/ui/static/js/app.js
index b3dd266a63..1d6390c11b 100644
--- a/awx/ui/static/js/app.js
+++ b/awx/ui/static/js/app.js
@@ -470,10 +470,13 @@ angular.module('Tower', [
                     //base.replace(/\_/g, ' ');
                     base = (base === 'job_events' || base === 'job_host_summaries') ? 'jobs' : base;
                 }
-
+                //make sure that the tower icon works when not in portal mode
+                $('.navbar-brand').attr('href', '/#/home');
                 $rootScope.portalMode=false;
                 if(base==='portal'){
                     $rootScope.portalMode= true;
+                    //in portal mode we don't want the tower icon to lead anywhere
+                    $('.navbar-brand').removeAttr('href');
                 }
 
                 $('#ansible-list-title').html('<strong>' + base.replace(/\_/,' ') + '</strong>');
@@ -579,6 +582,10 @@ angular.module('Tower', [
                     ShowSocketHelp();
                 };
 
+                $rootScope.leavePortal = function() {
+                    $location.path('/home/');
+                };
+
                 html = "<a href=\"\" ng-click=\"socketHelp()\" aw-pop-over=\"{{ socketTip }}\" aw-pop-over-watch=\"socketTip\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"hover\" " +
                     "data-popover-title=\"Live Events\" data-container=\"body\" style=\"font-size: 10px;\"><i class=\"fa icon-socket-{{ socketStatus }}\"></i></a>";
                 e = angular.element(document.getElementById('socket-beacon-div'));