diff --git a/core/xml.js b/core/xml.js
index 20c82015b..6fa10c5a3 100644
--- a/core/xml.js
+++ b/core/xml.js
@@ -651,6 +651,7 @@ Blockly.Xml.domToBlockHeadless_ = function(xmlBlock, workspace) {
       }
     }
 
+    var callInitSvg = false;
     var name = xmlChild.getAttribute('name');
     var xmlChildElement = /** @type {!Element} */ (xmlChild);
     switch (xmlChild.nodeName.toLowerCase()) {
@@ -660,7 +661,7 @@ Blockly.Xml.domToBlockHeadless_ = function(xmlBlock, workspace) {
           block.domToMutation(xmlChildElement);
           if (block.initSvg) {
             // Mutation may have added some elements that need initializing.
-            block.initSvg();
+            callInitSvg = true;
           }
         }
         break;
@@ -748,6 +749,11 @@ Blockly.Xml.domToBlockHeadless_ = function(xmlBlock, workspace) {
     }
   }
 
+  if (callInitSvg) {
+    // InitSvg needs to be called after variable fields are loaded.
+    block.initSvg();
+  }
+
   var inline = xmlBlock.getAttribute('inline');
   if (inline) {
     block.setInputsInline(inline == 'true');