diff --git a/packages/playground/website/src/components/ensure-playground-site/ensure-playground-site-is-selected.tsx b/packages/playground/website/src/components/ensure-playground-site/ensure-playground-site-is-selected.tsx
index 2646bb8585..3a29b54c1d 100644
--- a/packages/playground/website/src/components/ensure-playground-site/ensure-playground-site-is-selected.tsx
+++ b/packages/playground/website/src/components/ensure-playground-site/ensure-playground-site-is-selected.tsx
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ export function EnsurePlaygroundSiteIsSelected({
 				return;
 			}
 
+			// Don't create a new temporary site until the site listing settles.
+			// Otherwise, the status change from "loading" to "loaded" would
+			// re-run this entire effect, potentially leading to multiple
+			// sites being created since we couldn't look for duplicates yet.
+			if (!['loaded', 'error'].includes(siteListingStatus)) {
+				return;
+			}
+
 			// If the site slug is missing, create a new temporary site.
 			// Lean on the Query API parameters and the Blueprint API to
 			// create the new site.