diff --git a/js/ui/appDisplay.js b/js/ui/appDisplay.js
index d9947b5b0..2d8fc38f3 100644
--- a/js/ui/appDisplay.js
+++ b/js/ui/appDisplay.js
@@ -936,9 +936,15 @@ const FolderView = new Lang.Class({
         layout.hookup_style(icon);
         let subSize = Math.floor(FOLDER_SUBICON_FRACTION * size);
 
-        for (let i = 0; i < Math.min(this._allItems.length, 4); i++) {
-            let texture = this._allItems[i].app.create_icon_texture(subSize);
-            let bin = new St.Bin({ child: texture });
+        let numItems = this._allItems.length;
+        for (let i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
+            let bin;
+            if (i < numItems) {
+                let texture = this._allItems[i].app.create_icon_texture(subSize);
+                bin = new St.Bin({ child: texture });
+            } else {
+                bin = new St.Bin({ width: subSize, height: subSize });
+            }
             layout.pack(bin, i % 2, Math.floor(i / 2));
         }