diff --git a/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetLoader.java b/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetLoader.java
index d787c925db..ffec834c6c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetLoader.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetLoader.java
@@ -86,6 +86,14 @@ public synchronized void removeAllRepositories() {
     repositoryStateMap.clear();
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check whether there is currently a pending request for the given asset ID.
+   *
+   * <p>NOTE: This may be immediately incorrect by the time this function returns so decisions on
+   * whether to request an asset must not depend on the result.
+   *
+   * @return true if there is an incomplete request.
+   */
   public synchronized boolean isIdRequested(MD5Key id) {
     return requestedIdSet.contains(id);
   }
@@ -226,9 +234,20 @@ protected File getRepoIndexFile(String repository) {
     return new File(REPO_CACHE_DIR.getAbsolutePath() + "/" + new MD5Key(repository.getBytes()));
   }
 
-  public synchronized void requestAsset(MD5Key id) {
+  /**
+   * Submit a new request to retrieve the asset with the given ID if needed.
+   *
+   * @param id The ID of the asset to request.
+   * @return false if there was already a request, true if a new request was submitted.
+   */
+  public synchronized boolean requestAsset(MD5Key id) {
+    if (requestedIdSet.contains(id)) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
     retrievalThreadPool.submit(new ImageRetrievalRequest(id, createRequestQueue(id)));
     requestedIdSet.add(id);
+    return true;
   }
 
   public synchronized void completeRequest(MD5Key id) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetManager.java b/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetManager.java
index bf44066b95..53418cea69 100644
--- a/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetManager.java
+++ b/src/main/java/net/rptools/maptool/model/AssetManager.java
@@ -142,18 +142,6 @@ public static void updateRepositoryList() {
     }
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Determine if the asset is currently being requested. While an asset is being loaded it will be
-   * marked as requested and this function will return true. Once the asset is done loading this
-   * function will return false and the asset will be available from the cache.
-   *
-   * @param key MD5Key of asset being requested
-   * @return True if asset is currently being requested, false otherwise
-   */
-  public static boolean isAssetRequested(MD5Key key) {
-    return assetLoader.isIdRequested(key);
-  }
-
   /**
    * Register a listener with the asset manager. The listener will be notified when the asset is
    * done loading.
@@ -302,9 +290,7 @@ public static void getAssetAsynchronously(
 
           // Let's get it from the server
           // As a last resort we request the asset from the server
-          if (!isAssetRequested(id)) {
-            requestAssetFromServer(id, listeners);
-          }
+          requestAssetFromServer(id, listeners);
         });
   }