diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index 8cfa66f..3ec3055 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -5,6 +5,8 @@ https://github.com/josdejong/jsoneditor
 
 ## not yet released, version 5.5.5
 
+- Fixed #298: Switch mode button disappears when switching from text/code to
+  tree/form/view mode when the JSON contained errors.
 - Fixed enum drop downs not working when the JSONEditor is configured with
   a name.
 
diff --git a/src/js/textmode.js b/src/js/textmode.js
index 15d3689..91a5741 100644
--- a/src/js/textmode.js
+++ b/src/js/textmode.js
@@ -126,8 +126,6 @@ textmode.create = function (container, options) {
   // create mode box
   if (this.options && this.options.modes && this.options.modes.length) {
     this.modeSwitcher = new ModeSwitcher(this.menu, this.options.modes, this.options.mode, function onSwitch(mode) {
-      me.modeSwitcher.destroy();
-
       // switch mode and restore focus
       me.setMode(mode);
       me.modeSwitcher.focus();