diff --git a/src/overlay-manager.coffee b/src/overlay-manager.coffee
index 8d0db365d..6dc36b998 100644
--- a/src/overlay-manager.coffee
+++ b/src/overlay-manager.coffee
@@ -32,10 +32,13 @@ class OverlayManager
     cachedOverlay = @overlaysById[decorationId]
     unless overlayNode = cachedOverlay?.overlayNode
       overlayNode = document.createElement('atom-overlay')
-      overlayNode.appendChild(itemView)
       @container.appendChild(overlayNode)
       @overlaysById[decorationId] = cachedOverlay = {overlayNode, itemView}
 
+    # The same node may be used in more than one overlay. This steals the node
+    # back if it has been displayed in another overlay.
+    overlayNode.appendChild(itemView) if overlayNode.childNodes.length == 0
+
     cachedOverlay.pixelPosition = pixelPosition
     overlayNode.style.top = pixelPosition.top + 'px'
     overlayNode.style.left = pixelPosition.left + 'px'