diff --git a/src/copy.js b/src/copy.js
index dc76f7e..c417efa 100644
--- a/src/copy.js
+++ b/src/copy.js
@@ -28,4 +28,7 @@
   Array.from(document.querySelectorAll('dl.emojo div')).forEach((element) => {
     element.addEventListener('click', copyEmojo);
   });
+
+  // only display the instructions if JS is enabled
+  document.getElementById('copy-instructions').innerText = 'click/touch to copy to clipboard';
 }());
diff --git a/templates/emojo.html b/templates/emojo.html
index 3d8a5f1..0c178dc 100644
--- a/templates/emojo.html
+++ b/templates/emojo.html
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 {% block body %}
 <p>
     <b>{{ instance }}</b> emojo list<br>
-    click/touch to copy to clipboard
+    <span id=copy-instructions></span>
 </p>
 {% for category in emojo.keys() %}
     <h2 id={{ category }}>{{ category }}</h2>