diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 48d4ace..f7d98c0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -209,6 +209,7 @@ GitLens is highly customizable and provides many configuration settings to allow
 |`gitlens.statusBar.command`|"Specifies the command executed when the blame status bar item is clicked. `gitlens.toggleBlame` - toggles blame annotations. `gitlens.showBlameHistory` - opens the blame history explorer. `gitlens.showFileHistory` - opens the file history explorer. `gitlens.diffWithPrevious` - compares the current committed file with the previous commit. `gitlens.toggleCodeLens` - toggles Git code lens. `gitlens.showQuickCommitDetails` - shows a commit details quick pick. `gitlens.showQuickCommitFileDetails` - shows a commit file details quick pick. `gitlens.showQuickFileHistory` - shows a file history quick pick. `gitlens.showQuickRepoHistory` - shows a branch history quick pick
 |`gitlens.statusBar.date`|Specifies whether and how the commit date will be shown in the blame status bar. `off` - no date. `relative` - relative date (e.g. 1 day ago). `absolute` - date format specified by `gitlens.statusBar.dateFormat`
 |`gitlens.statusBar.dateFormat`|Specifies the date format of how absolute dates will be shown in the blame status bar. See https://momentjs.com/docs/#/displaying/format/ for valid formats
+|`gitlens.statusBar.alignment`|Specifies the blame alignment in the status bar. `left` - align to the left,  `right` - align to the right
 |`gitlens.insiders`|Opts into the insiders channel -- provides access to upcoming features
 
 ## Known Issues
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 1314d54..c13513a 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@
                     "left",
                     "right"
                   ],
-                  "description": "Specifies the blame alignment in the status bar"
+                  "description": "Specifies the blame alignment in the status bar. `left` - align to the left,  `right` - align to the right"
                 },
                 "gitlens.advanced.caching.enabled": {
                     "type": "boolean",
diff --git a/src/blameActiveLineController.ts b/src/blameActiveLineController.ts
index f02b45b..f5819d9 100644
--- a/src/blameActiveLineController.ts
+++ b/src/blameActiveLineController.ts
@@ -61,11 +61,13 @@ export class BlameActiveLineController extends Disposable {
         if (!Objects.areEquivalent(cfg.statusBar, this._config && this._config.statusBar)) {
             changed = true;
             if (cfg.statusBar.enabled) {
-                // Coerce invalid configuration to the default right alignment
-                const useDefaultAlignment = cfg.statusBar.alignment === 'right' || cfg.statusBar.alignment !== 'left';
-                const alignment = useDefaultAlignment ? StatusBarAlignment.Right : StatusBarAlignment.Left;
+                const alignment = cfg.statusBar.alignment !== 'left' ? StatusBarAlignment.Right : StatusBarAlignment.Left;
+                if (this._statusBarItem !== undefined && this._statusBarItem.alignment !== alignment) {
+                    this._statusBarItem.dispose();
+                    this._statusBarItem = undefined;
+                }
 
-                this._statusBarItem = this._statusBarItem || window.createStatusBarItem(alignment, 1000);
+                this._statusBarItem = this._statusBarItem || window.createStatusBarItem(alignment, alignment === StatusBarAlignment.Right ? 1000 : 0);
                 this._statusBarItem.command = cfg.statusBar.command;
             }
             else if (!cfg.statusBar.enabled && this._statusBarItem) {