diff --git a/src/app-layout/__tests__/multi-layout-props.test.tsx b/src/app-layout/__tests__/multi-layout-props.test.tsx
index 74b3fc1ba5..4207ecbb38 100644
--- a/src/app-layout/__tests__/multi-layout-props.test.tsx
+++ b/src/app-layout/__tests__/multi-layout-props.test.tsx
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ describe('mergeMultiAppLayoutProps', () => {
           id: 'drawer-global',
           ariaLabels: { drawerName: 'Global Drawer' },
           content: <div>Global Drawer Content</div>,
+          trigger: {
+            iconName: 'add-plus',
+          },
         },
       ],
       onActiveGlobalDrawersChange: mockParentActiveGlobalDrawerChange,
@@ -117,12 +120,59 @@ describe('mergeMultiAppLayoutProps', () => {
           id: 'drawer-global',
           ariaLabels: { drawerName: 'Global Drawer' },
           content: <div>Global Drawer Content</div>,
+          trigger: {
+            iconName: 'add-plus',
+          },
         },
       ],
       onActiveGlobalDrawersChange: mockParentActiveGlobalDrawerChange,
     });
   });
 
+  it('should merge ownProps and additionalProps (triggerless global drawers)', () => {
+    const result = mergeProps(ownProps, [
+      {
+        ...additionalPropsBase[0],
+        globalDrawers: [
+          {
+            id: 'drawer-global',
+            ariaLabels: { drawerName: 'Global Drawer' },
+            content: <div>Global Drawer Content</div>,
+          },
+        ],
+      },
+      additionalPropsBase[1],
+    ]);
+
+    expect(result).toEqual({
+      //asserting new aria labels overwrite existing yet preserve others
+      ariaLabels: {
+        navigation: 'New Navigation',
+        drawers: 'Drawers',
+      },
+      hasNavigation: true,
+      navigationOpen: true,
+      navigationFocusRef: ownProps.navigationFocusRef,
+      onNavigationToggle: mockParentNavigationToggle,
+      hasBreadcrumbsPortal: true,
+      hasSplitPanel: true,
+      splitPanelToggleProps: {
+        displayed: true,
+        active: false,
+        position: 'bottom',
+        controlId: 'test',
+        ariaLabel: 'test',
+      },
+      splitPanelFocusRef: ownProps.splitPanelFocusRef,
+      onSplitPanelToggle: mockParentSplitPanelToggle,
+      //asserting the ownProps drawer is not overwritten
+      activeDrawerId: ownProps.activeDrawerId,
+      drawers: ownProps.drawers,
+      drawersFocusRef: ownProps.drawersFocusRef,
+      onActiveDrawerChange: mockParentActiveDrawerChange,
+    });
+  });
+
   it('should return null if no fields are defined, except ariaLabels', () => {
     const result = mergeProps({ ariaLabels: {} } as SharedProps, []);
 
diff --git a/src/app-layout/visual-refresh-toolbar/state/props-merger.ts b/src/app-layout/visual-refresh-toolbar/state/props-merger.ts
index 1853ec2715..37299c2b4a 100644
--- a/src/app-layout/visual-refresh-toolbar/state/props-merger.ts
+++ b/src/app-layout/visual-refresh-toolbar/state/props-merger.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ export const mergeProps: MergeProps = (ownProps, additionalProps) => {
       toolbar.drawersFocusRef = props.drawersFocusRef;
       toolbar.onActiveDrawerChange = props.onActiveDrawerChange;
     }
-    if (props.globalDrawers && !checkAlreadyExists(!!toolbar.globalDrawers, 'globalDrawers')) {
+    if (
+      props.globalDrawers &&
+      props.globalDrawers.some(drawer => drawer.trigger) &&
+      !checkAlreadyExists(!!toolbar.globalDrawers, 'globalDrawers')
+    ) {
       toolbar.globalDrawersFocusControl = props.globalDrawersFocusControl;
       toolbar.globalDrawers = props.globalDrawers;
       toolbar.activeGlobalDrawersIds = props.activeGlobalDrawersIds;