diff --git a/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapSetCover.cs b/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapSetCover.cs
index 3a4423e42e..b376690436 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapSetCover.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Beatmaps/Drawables/UpdateableBeatmapSetCover.cs
@@ -41,6 +41,10 @@ namespace osu.Game.Beatmaps.Drawables
         protected override DelayedLoadWrapper CreateDelayedLoadWrapper(Func<Drawable> createContentFunc, double timeBeforeLoad)
             => new DelayedLoadUnloadWrapper(createContentFunc, timeBeforeLoad);
 
+        // by default, ModelBackedDrawable hides the old drawable only after the new one has been fully loaded.
+        // this can lead to weird appearance if the cover is not fully opaque, so fade out as soon as a new load is requested in this particular case.
+        protected override void OnLoadStarted() => ApplyHideTransforms(DisplayedDrawable);
+
         protected override Drawable CreateDrawable(BeatmapSetInfo model)
         {
             if (model == null)