diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php
index 9ee8e557f6..1017e41417 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php
@@ -2200,6 +2200,8 @@ function get_post_states( $post ) {
  * @return string Media states string.
  */
 function _media_states( $post ) {
+	static $header_images;
+
 	$media_states = array();
 	$stylesheet   = get_option( 'stylesheet' );
 
@@ -2207,7 +2209,9 @@ function _media_states( $post ) {
 		$meta_header = get_post_meta( $post->ID, '_wp_attachment_is_custom_header', true );
 
 		if ( is_random_header_image() ) {
-			$header_images = wp_list_pluck( get_uploaded_header_images(), 'attachment_id' );
+			if ( ! isset( $header_images ) ) {
+				$header_images = wp_list_pluck( get_uploaded_header_images(), 'attachment_id' );
+			}
 
 			if ( $meta_header === $stylesheet && in_array( $post->ID, $header_images, true ) ) {
 				$media_states[] = __( 'Header Image' );