diff --git a/polaris-react/src/components/EmptyState/EmptyState.tsx b/polaris-react/src/components/EmptyState/EmptyState.tsx
index 4f742fcbb18..c1700eb0fa7 100644
--- a/polaris-react/src/components/EmptyState/EmptyState.tsx
+++ b/polaris-react/src/components/EmptyState/EmptyState.tsx
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export function EmptyState({
   secondaryAction,
   footerContent,
 }: EmptyStateProps) {
-  const [imageLoaded, setImageLoaded] = useState<boolean>(true);
+  const [imageLoaded, setImageLoaded] = useState<boolean>(false);
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const img: HTMLImageElement = new window.Image(0, 0);