diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 23aa6fd..fe8696b 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -5971,12 +5971,12 @@
 				},
 				{
 					"command": "gitlens.views.fileHistory.setEditorFollowingOn",
-					"when": "view =~ /^gitlens\\.views\\.fileHistory/ && !gitlens:views:fileHistory:editorFollowing",
+					"when": "view =~ /^gitlens\\.views\\.fileHistory/ && gitlens:views:fileHistory:canPin && !gitlens:views:fileHistory:editorFollowing",
 					"group": "navigation@10"
 				},
 				{
 					"command": "gitlens.views.fileHistory.setEditorFollowingOff",
-					"when": "view =~ /^gitlens\\.views\\.fileHistory/ && gitlens:views:fileHistory:editorFollowing",
+					"when": "view =~ /^gitlens\\.views\\.fileHistory/ && gitlens:views:fileHistory:canPin && gitlens:views:fileHistory:editorFollowing",
 					"group": "navigation@10"
 				},
 				{
diff --git a/src/constants.ts b/src/constants.ts
index 4021f65..b6c1591 100644
--- a/src/constants.ts
+++ b/src/constants.ts
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export enum ContextKeys {
 	ViewsCanCompare = 'gitlens:views:canCompare',
 	ViewsCanCompareFile = 'gitlens:views:canCompare:file',
 	ViewsCommitsMyCommitsOnly = 'gitlens:views:commits:myCommitsOnly',
+	ViewsFileHistoryCanPin = 'gitlens:views:fileHistory:canPin',
 	ViewsFileHistoryCursorFollowing = 'gitlens:views:fileHistory:cursorFollowing',
 	ViewsFileHistoryEditorFollowing = 'gitlens:views:fileHistory:editorFollowing',
 	ViewsLineHistoryEditorFollowing = 'gitlens:views:lineHistory:editorFollowing',
diff --git a/src/views/fileHistoryView.ts b/src/views/fileHistoryView.ts
index 3c7f73b..7fc0585 100644
--- a/src/views/fileHistoryView.ts
+++ b/src/views/fileHistoryView.ts
@@ -101,14 +101,17 @@ export class FileHistoryView extends ViewBase<FileHistoryTrackerNode | LineHisto
 		return true;
 	}
 
-	async showHistoryForUri(uri: GitUri, baseRef?: string) {
+	async showHistoryForUri(uri: GitUri) {
 		this.setCursorFollowing(false);
-		this.setEditorFollowing(false);
 
 		const root = this.ensureRoot(true);
+
 		if (root instanceof FileHistoryTrackerNode) {
-			await root.showHistoryForUri(uri, baseRef);
+			await root.showHistoryForUri(uri);
+
+			this.setEditorFollowing(false);
 		}
+
 		return this.show();
 	}
 
@@ -129,17 +132,19 @@ export class FileHistoryView extends ViewBase<FileHistoryTrackerNode | LineHisto
 	}
 
 	private setEditorFollowing(enabled: boolean) {
+		const root = this.ensureRoot();
+		if (!root.hasUri) return;
+
 		this._followEditor = enabled;
 		void setContext(ContextKeys.ViewsFileHistoryEditorFollowing, enabled);
 
-		const root = this.ensureRoot(true);
 		root.setEditorFollowing(enabled);
 
 		if (this.description?.endsWith(pinnedSuffix)) {
 			if (enabled) {
 				this.description = this.description.substr(0, this.description.length - pinnedSuffix.length);
 			}
-		} else if (!enabled) {
+		} else if (!enabled && this.description != null) {
 			this.description += pinnedSuffix;
 		}
 
diff --git a/src/views/nodes/fileHistoryTrackerNode.ts b/src/views/nodes/fileHistoryTrackerNode.ts
index 56ba3d9..4fc55f6 100644
--- a/src/views/nodes/fileHistoryTrackerNode.ts
+++ b/src/views/nodes/fileHistoryTrackerNode.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
 import { Disposable, TextEditor, TreeItem, TreeItemCollapsibleState, window } from 'vscode';
-import { MessageNode } from './common';
 import { UriComparer } from '../../comparers';
 import { BranchSorting, TagSorting } from '../../configuration';
 import { Container } from '../../container';
@@ -12,11 +11,11 @@ import { Logger } from '../../logger';
 import { ReferencePicker } from '../../quickpicks';
 import { debug, Functions, gate, log } from '../../system';
 import { ContextValues, SubscribeableViewNode, unknownGitUri, ViewNode } from './viewNode';
+import { ContextKeys, setContext } from '../../constants';
 
 export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryView> {
 	private _base: string | undefined;
 	private _child: FileHistoryNode | undefined;
-	private _fileUri: GitUri | undefined;
 	protected splatted = true;
 
 	constructor(view: FileHistoryView) {
@@ -39,27 +38,29 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 
 	async getChildren(): Promise<ViewNode[]> {
 		if (this._child == null) {
-			if (this._fileUri == null && this.uri === unknownGitUri) {
+			if (!this.hasUri) {
 				this.view.description = undefined;
 
-				return [
-					new MessageNode(
-						this.view,
-						this,
-						'There are no editors open that can provide file history information.',
-					),
-				];
+				this.view.message = 'There are no editors open that can provide file history information.';
+				return [];
 			}
 
-			const uri = this._fileUri ?? this.uri;
-			const commitish: GitCommitish = { ...uri, repoPath: uri.repoPath!, sha: this._base ?? uri.sha };
-			const fileUri = new GitUri(uri, commitish);
+			this.view.message = undefined;
+
+			const commitish: GitCommitish = {
+				...this.uri,
+				repoPath: this.uri.repoPath!,
+				sha: this._base ?? this.uri.sha,
+			};
+			const fileUri = new GitUri(this.uri, commitish);
 
 			let branch;
 			if (!commitish.sha || commitish.sha === 'HEAD') {
-				branch = await Container.git.getBranch(uri.repoPath);
+				branch = await Container.git.getBranch(this.uri.repoPath);
 			} else if (!GitRevision.isSha(commitish.sha)) {
-				[branch] = await Container.git.getBranches(uri.repoPath, { filter: b => b.name === commitish.sha });
+				[branch] = await Container.git.getBranches(this.uri.repoPath, {
+					filter: b => b.name === commitish.sha,
+				});
 			}
 			this._child = new FileHistoryNode(fileUri, this.view, this, branch);
 		}
@@ -80,6 +81,10 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 		return this.canSubscribe;
 	}
 
+	get hasUri(): boolean {
+		return this._uri != unknownGitUri;
+	}
+
 	@gate()
 	@log()
 	async changeBase() {
@@ -107,7 +112,7 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 		}
 		if (this._child == null) return;
 
-		this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+		this.setUri();
 		await this.triggerChange();
 	}
 
@@ -119,31 +124,31 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 		const cc = Logger.getCorrelationContext();
 
 		if (reset) {
-			this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+			this.setUri();
 			this.resetChild();
 		}
 
 		const editor = window.activeTextEditor;
 		if (editor == null || !Container.git.isTrackable(editor.document.uri)) {
 			if (
-				this.uri === unknownGitUri ||
+				!this.hasUri ||
 				(Container.git.isTrackable(this.uri) &&
 					window.visibleTextEditors.some(e => e.document?.uri.path === this.uri.path))
 			) {
 				return true;
 			}
 
-			this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+			this.setUri();
 			this.resetChild();
 
-			if (cc !== undefined) {
+			if (cc != null) {
 				cc.exitDetails = `, uri=${Logger.toLoggable(this._uri)}`;
 			}
 			return false;
 		}
 
 		if (editor.document.uri.path === this.uri.path) {
-			if (cc !== undefined) {
+			if (cc != null) {
 				cc.exitDetails = `, uri=${Logger.toLoggable(this._uri)}`;
 			}
 			return true;
@@ -152,26 +157,26 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 		let gitUri = await GitUri.fromUri(editor.document.uri);
 
 		let uri;
-		if (gitUri.sha !== undefined) {
+		if (gitUri.sha != null) {
 			// If we have a sha, normalize the history to the working file (so we get a full history all the time)
 			const workingUri = await Container.git.getWorkingUri(gitUri.repoPath!, gitUri);
-			if (workingUri !== undefined) {
+			if (workingUri != null) {
 				uri = workingUri;
 			}
 		}
 
-		if (this.uri !== unknownGitUri && UriComparer.equals(uri ?? gitUri, this.uri)) {
+		if (this.hasUri && UriComparer.equals(uri ?? gitUri, this.uri)) {
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		if (uri !== undefined) {
+		if (uri != null) {
 			gitUri = await GitUri.fromUri(uri);
 		}
 
-		this._uri = gitUri;
+		this.setUri(gitUri);
 		this.resetChild();
 
-		if (cc !== undefined) {
+		if (cc != null) {
 			cc.exitDetails = `, uri=${Logger.toLoggable(this._uri)}`;
 		}
 		return false;
@@ -179,11 +184,8 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 
 	@log()
 	setEditorFollowing(enabled: boolean) {
-		if (enabled && this._fileUri !== undefined) {
-			this._fileUri = undefined;
-			this._base = undefined;
-
-			this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+		if (enabled) {
+			this.setUri();
 			// Don't need to call triggerChange here, since canSubscribe will do it
 		}
 
@@ -191,18 +193,15 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 	}
 
 	@log()
-	async showHistoryForUri(uri: GitUri, baseRef?: string) {
-		this._fileUri = uri;
-		this._base = baseRef;
-
-		this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+	async showHistoryForUri(uri: GitUri) {
+		this.setUri(uri);
 		await this.triggerChange();
 	}
 
 	@debug()
 	protected subscribe() {
 		return Disposable.from(
-			window.onDidChangeActiveTextEditor(Functions.debounce(this.onActiveEditorChanged, 500), this),
+			window.onDidChangeActiveTextEditor(Functions.debounce(this.onActiveEditorChanged, 250), this),
 		);
 	}
 
@@ -210,4 +209,9 @@ export class FileHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<FileHistoryVie
 	private onActiveEditorChanged(_editor: TextEditor | undefined) {
 		void this.triggerChange();
 	}
+
+	private setUri(uri?: GitUri) {
+		this._uri = uri ?? unknownGitUri;
+		void setContext(ContextKeys.ViewsFileHistoryCanPin, this.hasUri);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/views/nodes/lineHistoryTrackerNode.ts b/src/views/nodes/lineHistoryTrackerNode.ts
index 5be8146..bcc9fe3 100644
--- a/src/views/nodes/lineHistoryTrackerNode.ts
+++ b/src/views/nodes/lineHistoryTrackerNode.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 'use strict';
 import { Selection, TreeItem, TreeItemCollapsibleState, window } from 'vscode';
-import { MessageNode } from './common';
 import { UriComparer } from '../../comparers';
 import { BranchSorting, TagSorting } from '../../configuration';
 import { Container } from '../../container';
@@ -14,6 +13,7 @@ import { ReferencePicker } from '../../quickpicks';
 import { debug, Functions, gate, log } from '../../system';
 import { LinesChangeEvent } from '../../trackers/gitLineTracker';
 import { ContextValues, SubscribeableViewNode, unknownGitUri, ViewNode } from './viewNode';
+import { ContextKeys, setContext } from '../../constants';
 
 export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryView | FileHistoryView> {
 	private _base: string | undefined;
@@ -42,18 +42,15 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 
 	async getChildren(): Promise<ViewNode[]> {
 		if (this._child == null) {
-			if (this.uri === unknownGitUri) {
+			if (!this.hasUri) {
 				this.view.description = undefined;
 
-				return [
-					new MessageNode(
-						this.view,
-						this,
-						'There are no editors open that can provide line history information.',
-					),
-				];
+				this.view.message = 'There are no editors open that can provide line history information.';
+				return [];
 			}
 
+			this.view.message = undefined;
+
 			const commitish: GitCommitish = {
 				...this.uri,
 				repoPath: this.uri.repoPath!,
@@ -90,6 +87,10 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 		return this.canSubscribe;
 	}
 
+	get hasUri(): boolean {
+		return this._uri != unknownGitUri;
+	}
+
 	@gate()
 	@log()
 	async changeBase() {
@@ -117,7 +118,7 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 		}
 		if (this._child == null) return;
 
-		this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+		this.setUri();
 		await this.triggerChange();
 	}
 
@@ -129,7 +130,7 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 		const cc = Logger.getCorrelationContext();
 
 		if (reset) {
-			this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+			this.setUri();
 			this._editorContents = undefined;
 			this._selection = undefined;
 			this.resetChild();
@@ -138,19 +139,19 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 		const editor = window.activeTextEditor;
 		if (editor == null || !Container.git.isTrackable(editor.document.uri)) {
 			if (
-				this.uri === unknownGitUri ||
+				!this.hasUri ||
 				(Container.git.isTrackable(this.uri) &&
 					window.visibleTextEditors.some(e => e.document?.uri.path === this.uri.path))
 			) {
 				return true;
 			}
 
-			this._uri = unknownGitUri;
+			this.setUri();
 			this._editorContents = undefined;
 			this._selection = undefined;
 			this.resetChild();
 
-			if (cc !== undefined) {
+			if (cc != null) {
 				cc.exitDetails = `, uri=${Logger.toLoggable(this._uri)}`;
 			}
 			return false;
@@ -158,10 +159,10 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 
 		if (
 			editor.document.uri.path === this.uri.path &&
-			this._selection !== undefined &&
+			this._selection != null &&
 			editor.selection.isEqual(this._selection)
 		) {
-			if (cc !== undefined) {
+			if (cc != null) {
 				cc.exitDetails = `, uri=${Logger.toLoggable(this._uri)}`;
 			}
 			return true;
@@ -170,20 +171,20 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 		const gitUri = await GitUri.fromUri(editor.document.uri);
 
 		if (
-			this.uri !== unknownGitUri &&
+			this.hasUri &&
 			UriComparer.equals(gitUri, this.uri) &&
-			this._selection !== undefined &&
+			this._selection != null &&
 			editor.selection.isEqual(this._selection)
 		) {
 			return true;
 		}
 
-		this._uri = gitUri;
+		this.setUri(gitUri);
 		this._editorContents = editor.document.isDirty ? editor.document.getText() : undefined;
 		this._selection = editor.selection;
 		this.resetChild();
 
-		if (cc !== undefined) {
+		if (cc != null) {
 			cc.exitDetails = `, uri=${Logger.toLoggable(this._uri)}`;
 		}
 		return false;
@@ -221,4 +222,9 @@ export class LineHistoryTrackerNode extends SubscribeableViewNode<LineHistoryVie
 	private onActiveLinesChanged(_e: LinesChangeEvent) {
 		void this.triggerChange();
 	}
+
+	private setUri(uri?: GitUri) {
+		this._uri = uri ?? unknownGitUri;
+		void setContext(ContextKeys.ViewsFileHistoryCanPin, this.hasUri);
+	}
 }