diff --git a/lib/upload.js b/lib/upload.js
index 3bd59a7..0a05b26 100644
--- a/lib/upload.js
+++ b/lib/upload.js
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ Slingshot.Upload = function (directive, metaData) {
       loaded = new ReactiveVar(),
       total = new ReactiveVar(),
       status = new ReactiveVar("idle"),
-      dataUri = new ReactiveVar(),
-      preloaded= new ReactiveVar();
+      dataUri,
+      preloaded;
 
   function buildFormData() {
     var formData = new window.FormData();
@@ -212,42 +212,85 @@ Slingshot.Upload = function (directive, metaData) {
      */
 
     url: function (preload) {
-      var status = self.status();
-
-      if (preload && !self.isImage())
-        throw new Error("Cannot pre-load anything other than images");
-
-      if (self.instructions && status === "done") {
-        var download = self.instructions.download;
+      if (!dataUri) {
+        var localUrl = new ReactiveVar(),
+            URL = (window.URL || window.webkitURL);
+
+        dataUri = new ReactiveVar();
+
+        Tracker.nonreactive(function () {
+
+          /*
+           It is important that we generate the local url not more than once
+           throughout the entire lifecycle of `self` to prevent flickering.
+           */
+
+          var previewRequirement = new Tracker.Dependency();
+
+          Tracker.autorun(function (computation) {
+            if (self.file) {
+              if (URL) {
+                localUrl.set(URL.createObjectURL(self.file));
+                computation.stop();
+              }
+              else if (Tracker.active && window.FileReader) {
+                readDataUrl(self.file, function (result) {
+                  localUrl.set(result);
+                  computation.stop();
+                });
+              }
+            }
+            else {
+              previewRequirement.depend();
+            }
+          });
 
-        if (preload && preloaded.get() !== download) {
-          preloadImage(download, function () {
-            preloaded.set(download);
+          Tracker.autorun(function (computation) {
+            var status = self.status();
+
+            if (self.instructions && status === "done") {
+              computation.stop();
+              dataUri.set(self.instructions.download);
+            }
+            else if (status === "failed" || status === "aborted") {
+              computation.stop();
+            }
+            else if (self.file && !dataUri.curValue) {
+              previewRequirement.changed();
+              dataUri.set(localUrl.get());
+            }
           });
-        }
-        else {
-          dataUri.set();
-          return download;
-        }
+        });
       }
 
-      if (status !== "failed" && status !== "aborted" && self.file) {
-        var URL = (window.URL || window.webkitURL);
+      if (preload) {
 
-        if (URL)
-          return URL.createObjectURL(self.file);
+        if (self.file && !self.isImage())
+          throw new Error("Cannot pre-load anything other than images");
 
-        if (Tracker.active && window.FileReader) {
-          var url = dataUri.get();
+        if (!preloaded) {
+          Tracker.nonreactive(function () {
+            preloaded = new ReactiveVar();
 
-          if (url)
-            return url;
+            Tracker.autorun(function (computation) {
+              var url = dataUri.get();
 
-          readDataUrl(self.file, function (result) {
-            dataUri.set(result);
+              if (self.instructions) {
+                preloadImage(url, function () {
+                  computation.stop();
+                  preloaded.set(url);
+                });
+              }
+              else
+                preloaded.set(url);
+            });
           });
         }
+
+        return preloaded.get();
       }
+      else
+        return dataUri.get();
     },
 
     /** Gets an upload parameter for the directive.