diff --git a/ComicBook.js b/ComicBook.js
index 8320d22..1ffb229 100644
--- a/ComicBook.js
+++ b/ComicBook.js
@@ -130,7 +130,10 @@ function ComicBook(id, srcs, opts) {
 
 		var i = 0; // the current page counter for this method
 		
-		$(canvas).after('<div class="control" id="status"><p></p></div>');
+		// show load status panel
+		if ($("#status").length === 0) {
+			$(canvas).after('<div class="control" id="status"><p></p></div>');
+		}
 		
 		// I am using recursion instead of a forEach loop so that the next image is
 		// only loaded when the previous one has completely finished