diff --git a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode.mm b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode.mm
index ac83664fad..bfec3469b0 100644
--- a/AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode.mm
+++ b/AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode.mm
@@ -1275,7 +1275,7 @@ static NSInteger incrementIfFound(NSInteger i) {
 
   [_supernode subnodeDisplayWillStart:self];
 
-  if (_placeholderImage && _placeholderLayer) {
+  if (_placeholderImage && _placeholderLayer && self.layer.contents == nil) {
     _placeholderLayer.contents = (id)_placeholderImage.CGImage;
     [self.layer addSublayer:_placeholderLayer];
   }