diff --git a/shared-module/displayio/Display.c b/shared-module/displayio/Display.c
index a640d10fd3..1f7891dc17 100644
--- a/shared-module/displayio/Display.c
+++ b/shared-module/displayio/Display.c
@@ -141,6 +141,9 @@ void common_hal_displayio_display_construct(displayio_display_obj_t *self,
 }
 
 bool common_hal_displayio_display_show(displayio_display_obj_t *self, displayio_group_t *root_group) {
+    if (root_group == NULL) {
+        return displayio_display_core_set_root_group(&self->core, &circuitpython_splash);
+    }
     return displayio_display_core_set_root_group(&self->core, root_group);
 }