diff --git a/src/shell/layout/tiling/mod.rs b/src/shell/layout/tiling/mod.rs
index ffeeb52a..85efb2ce 100644
--- a/src/shell/layout/tiling/mod.rs
+++ b/src/shell/layout/tiling/mod.rs
@@ -2637,28 +2637,36 @@ impl TilingLayout {
     }
 
     pub fn cleanup_drag(&mut self) {
-        let gaps = self.gaps();
+        let old_tree = &self.queue.trees.back().unwrap().0;
+        let mut new_tree = None;
 
-        let mut tree = self.queue.trees.back().unwrap().0.copy_clone();
-
-        if let Some(root) = tree.root_node_id() {
-            for id in tree
-                .traverse_pre_order_ids(root)
-                .unwrap()
-                .collect::<Vec<_>>()
-                .into_iter()
-            {
-                match tree.get_mut(&id).map(|node| node.data_mut()) {
-                    Ok(Data::Placeholder { .. }) => TilingLayout::unmap_internal(&mut tree, &id),
+        if let Some(root) = old_tree.root_node_id() {
+            for id in old_tree.traverse_pre_order_ids(root).unwrap() {
+                match old_tree.get(&id).map(|node| node.data()) {
+                    Ok(Data::Placeholder { .. }) => {
+                        // Copy a tree on write
+                        let new_tree = new_tree.get_or_insert_with(|| old_tree.copy_clone());
+                        TilingLayout::unmap_internal(new_tree, &id)
+                    }
                     Ok(Data::Group { pill_indicator, .. }) if pill_indicator.is_some() => {
-                        pill_indicator.take();
+                        let new_tree = new_tree.get_or_insert_with(|| old_tree.copy_clone());
+                        match new_tree.get_mut(&id).unwrap().data_mut() {
+                            Data::Group { pill_indicator, .. } => {
+                                *pill_indicator = None;
+                            }
+                            _ => unreachable!(),
+                        }
                     }
                     _ => {}
                 }
             }
 
-            let blocker = TilingLayout::update_positions(&self.output, &mut tree, gaps);
-            self.queue.push_tree(tree, ANIMATION_DURATION, blocker);
+            // If anything was changed, push updated tree
+            if let Some(mut new_tree) = new_tree {
+                let blocker =
+                    TilingLayout::update_positions(&self.output, &mut new_tree, self.gaps());
+                self.queue.push_tree(new_tree, ANIMATION_DURATION, blocker);
+            }
         }
     }