diff --git a/tests/frontend/helper.js b/tests/frontend/helper.js
index 800dfb29315c..791f0e5972d8 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/helper.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/helper.js
@@ -75,20 +75,25 @@ var helper = {};
   helper.newPad = function(cb, padName){
     //build opts object
     var opts = {clearCookies: true}
+
     if(typeof cb === 'function'){
       opts.cb = cb
     } else {
       opts = _.defaults(cb, opts);
     }
 
+    // if opts.params is set we manipulate the URL to include URL parameters IE ?foo=Bah.
+    if (opts.params) {
+      var encodedParams = "?" + $.param(opts.params);
+    }
+
     //clear cookies
     if(opts.clearCookies){
       helper.clearCookies();
     }
-
     if(!padName)
       padName = "FRONTEND_TEST_" + helper.randomString(20);
-    $iframe = $("<iframe src='/p/" + padName + "'></iframe>");
+    $iframe = $("<iframe src='/p/" + padName + (encodedParams || '') + "'></iframe>");
 
     //clean up inner iframe references
     helper.padChrome$ = helper.padOuter$ = helper.padInner$ = null;
diff --git a/tests/frontend/specs/chat.js b/tests/frontend/specs/chat.js
index e48dad8b02fe..869d616c6776 100644
--- a/tests/frontend/specs/chat.js
+++ b/tests/frontend/specs/chat.js
@@ -127,4 +127,41 @@ describe("Chat messages and UI", function(){
 
     done();
   });
+
+  it("Checks showChat=false URL Parameter hides chat then when removed it shows chat", function(done) {
+    this.timeout(60000);
+    var inner$ = helper.padInner$;
+    var chrome$ = helper.padChrome$;
+
+    setTimeout(function(){ //give it a second to save the username on the server side
+      helper.newPad({ // get a new pad, but don't clear the cookies
+        clearCookies: false,
+        params:{
+          showChat: "false"
+        }, cb: function(){
+          var chrome$ = helper.padChrome$;
+          var chaticon = chrome$("#chaticon");
+          // chat should be hidden.
+          expect(chaticon.is(":visible")).to.be(false);
+
+
+          setTimeout(function(){ //give it a second to save the username on the server side
+            helper.newPad({ // get a new pad, but don't clear the cookies
+              clearCookies: false
+              , cb: function(){
+                var chrome$ = helper.padChrome$;
+                var chaticon = chrome$("#chaticon");
+                // chat should be visible.
+                expect(chaticon.is(":visible")).to.be(true);
+                done();
+              }
+            });
+          }, 1000);
+
+        }
+      });
+    }, 1000);
+
+  });
+
 });