diff --git a/apps/red-ui/src/app/screens/file/pdf-viewer/pdf-viewer.component.ts b/apps/red-ui/src/app/screens/file/pdf-viewer/pdf-viewer.component.ts
index 1675aa77b..202c82eb6 100644
--- a/apps/red-ui/src/app/screens/file/pdf-viewer/pdf-viewer.component.ts
+++ b/apps/red-ui/src/app/screens/file/pdf-viewer/pdf-viewer.component.ts
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ export interface ViewerState {
 })
 export class PdfViewerComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit, OnChanges {
     private _viewerState: ViewerState = null; // no initial state
+    private _selectedText = '';
 
     @Input() fileData: Blob;
     @Input() fileStatus: FileStatusWrapper;
@@ -125,6 +126,15 @@ export class PdfViewerComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit, OnChanges {
                 }
             });
 
+            instance.docViewer.on('textSelected', (quads, selectedText, pageNumber) => {
+                this._selectedText = selectedText;
+                if (selectedText.length > 2 && this.canPerformActions) {
+                    this.instance.enableElements(['add-dictionary']);
+                } else {
+                    this.instance.disableElements(['add-dictionary']);
+                }
+            });
+
             this._loadDocument();
         });
     }
@@ -256,7 +266,10 @@ export class PdfViewerComponent implements OnInit, AfterViewInit, OnChanges {
 
     private _handleCustomActions() {
         if (this.canPerformActions) {
-            this.instance.enableElements(['add-redaction', 'add-dictionary', 'add-rectangle', 'shapeToolGroupButton']);
+            this.instance.enableElements(['add-redaction', 'add-rectangle', 'shapeToolGroupButton']);
+            if (this._selectedText.length > 2) {
+                this.instance.enableElements(['add-dictionary']);
+            }
         } else {
             this.instance.disableElements(['add-redaction', 'add-dictionary', 'add-rectangle', 'shapeToolGroupButton']);
         }