diff --git a/src/js/filemanager.js b/src/js/filemanager.js
index d52027e39..685f2a9be 100644
--- a/src/js/filemanager.js
+++ b/src/js/filemanager.js
@@ -794,6 +794,9 @@ app.controller('FileManagerController', ['$scope', '$translate', '$timeout', 'Cl
         },
 
         close: function () {
+            // set an empty pixel image to bust the cached img to avoid flickering on slow load
+            $scope.mediaViewer.src = 'data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAYAAAAfFcSJAAAADUlEQVR42mP8z/C/HgAGgwJ/lK3Q6wAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==';
+
             $('#mediaViewerModal').modal('hide');
         }
     };