diff --git a/js/ui/dash.js b/js/ui/dash.js
index 6eb71e73b..60725381b 100644
--- a/js/ui/dash.js
+++ b/js/ui/dash.js
@@ -815,7 +815,12 @@ var Dash = GObject.registerClass({
         else
             pos = 0; // always insert at the top when dash is empty
 
-        if (pos != this._dragPlaceholderPos && pos <= numFavorites && this._animatingPlaceholdersCount == 0) {
+        // Put the placeholder after the last favorite if we are not
+        // in the favorites zone
+        if (pos > numFavorites)
+            pos = numFavorites;
+
+        if (pos !== this._dragPlaceholderPos && this._animatingPlaceholdersCount === 0) {
             this._dragPlaceholderPos = pos;
 
             // Don't allow positioning before or after self
@@ -843,11 +848,6 @@ var Dash = GObject.registerClass({
             this._dragPlaceholder.show(fadeIn);
         }
 
-        // Remove the drag placeholder if we are not in the
-        // "favorites zone"
-        if (pos > numFavorites)
-            this._clearDragPlaceholder();
-
         if (!this._dragPlaceholder)
             return DND.DragMotionResult.NO_DROP;