--- st.c
+++ st.c
@@ -1264,9 +1313,24 @@ tsetchar(Rune u, const Glyph *attr, int x, int y)
 		term.line[y][x-1].mode &= ~ATTR_WIDE;
 	}
 
+	if (u == ' ' && term.line[y][x].mode & ATTR_IMAGE &&
+	    tgetisclassicplaceholder(&term.line[y][x])) {
+		// This is a workaround: don't overwrite classic placement
+		// placeholders with space symbols (unlike Unicode placeholders
+		// which must be overwritten by anything).
+		term.line[y][x].bg = attr->bg;
+		term.dirty[y] = 1;
+		return;
+	}
+
 	term.dirty[y] = 1;
 	term.line[y][x] = *attr;
 	term.line[y][x].u = u;
+
+	if (u == IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER_CHAR || u == IMAGE_PLACEHOLDER_CHAR_OLD) {
+		term.line[y][x].u = 0;
+		term.line[y][x].mode |= ATTR_IMAGE;
+	}
 }
 
 void