diff --git a/packages/react-components/src/components/gif.tsx b/packages/react-components/src/components/gif.tsx
index ea5f205f..4935e372 100644
--- a/packages/react-components/src/components/gif.tsx
+++ b/packages/react-components/src/components/gif.tsx
@@ -230,8 +230,10 @@ const Gif = ({
     useEffect(() => {
         showGifObserver.current = new IntersectionObserver(([entry]: IntersectionObserverEntry[]) => {
             const { isIntersecting } = entry
-            // show the gif if the container is on the screen
-            setShouldShowMedia(isIntersecting)
+            // show the gif if the container is on the screen, and we haven't show it yet
+            if (image.current?.src === placeholder) {
+                setShouldShowMedia(isIntersecting)
+            }
             // remove the fullGifObserver if we go off the screen
             // we may have already disconnected if the hasFiredSeen happened
             if (!isIntersecting && fullGifObserver.current) {