diff --git a/js/ui/layout.js b/js/ui/layout.js
index e629f6280..0f279f86c 100644
--- a/js/ui/layout.js
+++ b/js/ui/layout.js
@@ -650,10 +650,14 @@ var LayoutManager = GObject.registerClass({
             // This helps to prevent us from running the animation
             // when the system is bogged down
             const id = GLib.idle_add(GLib.PRIORITY_LOW, () => {
-                this._systemBackground.show();
-                global.stage.show();
-                this._prepareStartupAnimation();
-                return GLib.SOURCE_REMOVE;
+                if (this.primaryMonitor) {
+                    this._systemBackground.show();
+                    global.stage.show();
+                    this._prepareStartupAnimation();
+                    return GLib.SOURCE_REMOVE;
+                } else {
+                    return GLib.SOURCE_CONTINUE;
+                }
             });
             GLib.Source.set_name_by_id(id, '[gnome-shell] Startup Animation');
         });