diff --git a/src/aiidalab_qe/app/main.py b/src/aiidalab_qe/app/main.py
index 9816e0c16..179bbda31 100644
--- a/src/aiidalab_qe/app/main.py
+++ b/src/aiidalab_qe/app/main.py
@@ -154,13 +154,6 @@ def _on_configuration_confirmation_change(self, _):
     def _render_step(self, step_index):
         step = self.steps[step_index][1]
         step.render()
-        if step is self.structure_step:
-            # HACK to fix the rendering of the ngl viewer
-            # Reason: If a process is loaded prior to the rendering of the
-            # structure step, the ngl viewer will assume a size of zero.
-            # This code will reset the size and render the selected structure.
-            self.structure_step.manager.viewer._viewer.handle_resize()
-            self.structure_step.manager.viewer._viewer.control.zoom(0)
 
     def _update_blockers(self):
         self.submit_model.external_submission_blockers = [
diff --git a/src/aiidalab_qe/app/structure/__init__.py b/src/aiidalab_qe/app/structure/__init__.py
index 5a4a48fb9..97caed840 100644
--- a/src/aiidalab_qe/app/structure/__init__.py
+++ b/src/aiidalab_qe/app/structure/__init__.py
@@ -93,8 +93,8 @@ def render(self):
 
         # HACK structure manager resets the structure node on initialization,
         # causing the structure in the model (if exists) to reset. To avoid
-        # this issue, we store the structure in a variable and reassign it
-        # to the model after the initialization of the structure manager.
+        # this issue, we store the structure in a variable and assign it to
+        # the manager's viewer after the initialization of the structure manager.
         # TODO fix this issue in the structure manager and remove this hack!
 
         structure = self._model.structure
@@ -111,11 +111,6 @@ def render(self):
                 "Download",
             ],
         )
-        ipw.dlink(
-            (self._model, "structure"),
-            (self.manager, "structure"),
-            lambda structure: structure.get_ase() if structure else None,
-        )
         ipw.dlink(
             (self.manager, "structure_node"),
             (self._model, "structure"),
@@ -125,7 +120,8 @@ def render(self):
             (self.manager.output, "value"),
         )
 
-        self._model.structure = structure
+        if structure:  # loaded from process
+            self.manager.viewer.structure = structure.get_ase()  # TODO why ase?
 
         self.structure_name_text = ipw.Text(
             placeholder="[No structure selected]",