diff --git a/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/MisoScenePanel.java b/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/MisoScenePanel.java
index 0a4d9dc0..cf3bcf94 100644
--- a/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/MisoScenePanel.java
+++ b/src/java/com/threerings/miso/client/MisoScenePanel.java
@@ -154,8 +154,8 @@ public class MisoScenePanel extends VirtualMediaPanel
     public void refreshScene ()
     {
         clearScene();
-        rethink();
-        _delayRepaint = true;
+        // Don't repaint immediately if we've gotten new penders from our rethink
+        _delayRepaint = rethink() > 0;
         _remgr.invalidateRegion(_vbounds);
     }