diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/ImageWallpaper.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/ImageWallpaper.java
index 408e599bc2892..77f4bf529f21b 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/ImageWallpaper.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/ImageWallpaper.java
@@ -256,6 +256,12 @@ public class ImageWallpaper extends WallpaperService {
                 Log.d(TAG, "onSurfaceRedrawNeeded");
             }
             super.onSurfaceRedrawNeeded(holder);
+            // At the end of this method we should have drawn into the surface.
+            // This means that the bitmap should be loaded synchronously if
+            // it was already unloaded.
+            if (mBackground == null) {
+                updateBitmap(mWallpaperManager.getBitmap(true /* hardware */));
+            }
             mSurfaceRedrawNeeded = true;
             drawFrame();
         }