diff --git a/report/renderer/performance-category-renderer.js b/report/renderer/performance-category-renderer.js
index d868b96f0f16..2f6820b3ffb7 100644
--- a/report/renderer/performance-category-renderer.js
+++ b/report/renderer/performance-category-renderer.js
@@ -205,17 +205,19 @@ export class PerformanceCategoryRenderer extends CategoryRenderer {
         metricsBoxesEl.appendChild(this._renderMetric(item));
       });
 
-      const descriptionEl = this.dom.find('.lh-category-header__description', element);
-      const estValuesEl = this.dom.createChildOf(descriptionEl, 'div', 'lh-metrics__disclaimer');
-      const disclaimerEl = this.dom.convertMarkdownLinkSnippets(strings.varianceDisclaimer);
-      estValuesEl.appendChild(disclaimerEl);
-
-      // Add link to score calculator.
-      const calculatorLink = this.dom.createChildOf(estValuesEl, 'a', 'lh-calclink');
-      calculatorLink.target = '_blank';
-      calculatorLink.textContent = strings.calculatorLink;
-      this.dom.safelySetHref(calculatorLink, this._getScoringCalculatorHref(category.auditRefs));
-
+      // Only add the disclaimer with the score calculator link if the category was rendered with a score gauge.
+      if (element.querySelector('.lh-gauge__wrapper')) {
+        const descriptionEl = this.dom.find('.lh-category-header__description', element);
+        const estValuesEl = this.dom.createChildOf(descriptionEl, 'div', 'lh-metrics__disclaimer');
+        const disclaimerEl = this.dom.convertMarkdownLinkSnippets(strings.varianceDisclaimer);
+        estValuesEl.appendChild(disclaimerEl);
+
+        // Add link to score calculator.
+        const calculatorLink = this.dom.createChildOf(estValuesEl, 'a', 'lh-calclink');
+        calculatorLink.target = '_blank';
+        calculatorLink.textContent = strings.calculatorLink;
+        this.dom.safelySetHref(calculatorLink, this._getScoringCalculatorHref(category.auditRefs));
+      }
 
       metricsGroupEl.classList.add('lh-audit-group--metrics');
       element.appendChild(metricsGroupEl);
diff --git a/report/test/renderer/performance-category-renderer-test.js b/report/test/renderer/performance-category-renderer-test.js
index 19fed9af0a9e..89019c0ad75a 100644
--- a/report/test/renderer/performance-category-renderer-test.js
+++ b/report/test/renderer/performance-category-renderer-test.js
@@ -106,6 +106,17 @@ describe('PerfCategoryRenderer', () => {
     assert.strictEqual(new URL(calcLink.href).hostname, 'googlechrome.github.io');
   });
 
+  it('does not render disclaimer if there is no category gauge', () => {
+    // Timespan mode uses a category fraction instead of a gauge.
+    const categoryDOM = renderer.render(
+      category,
+      sampleResults.categoryGroups,
+      {gatherMode: 'timespan'}
+    );
+    const disclaimerEl = categoryDOM.querySelector('.lh-metrics__disclaimer');
+    assert.ok(!disclaimerEl);
+  });
+
   it('ignores hidden audits', () => {
     const categoryDOM = renderer.render(category, sampleResults.categoryGroups);