diff --git a/src/scripts/choices.ts b/src/scripts/choices.ts
index 6a23ef2a..e4bddac7 100644
--- a/src/scripts/choices.ts
+++ b/src/scripts/choices.ts
@@ -1362,24 +1362,14 @@ class Choices {
 
   _handleLoadingState(setLoading = true): void {
     const { config } = this;
-    let placeholderItem = this.itemList.element.querySelector<HTMLElement>(
-      getClassNamesSelector(config.classNames.placeholder),
-    );
 
     if (setLoading) {
       this.disable();
       this.containerOuter.addLoadingState();
 
       if (this._isSelectOneElement) {
-        if (!placeholderItem) {
-          placeholderItem = this._templates.placeholder(config, config.loadingText);
-
-          if (placeholderItem) {
-            this.itemList.append(placeholderItem);
-          }
-        } else {
-          placeholderItem.innerHTML = config.loadingText;
-        }
+        this.itemList.clear();
+        this.itemList.append(this._templates.placeholder(config, config.loadingText));
       } else {
         this.input.placeholder = config.loadingText;
       }
@@ -1387,11 +1377,7 @@ class Choices {
       this.enable();
       this.containerOuter.removeLoadingState();
 
-      if (this._isSelectOneElement) {
-        if (placeholderItem) {
-          placeholderItem.innerHTML = this._placeholderValue || '';
-        }
-      } else {
+      if (!this._isSelectOneElement) {
         this.input.placeholder = this._placeholderValue || '';
       }
     }
diff --git a/test-e2e/select-test-suit.ts b/test-e2e/select-test-suit.ts
index 656d3056..537359ca 100644
--- a/test-e2e/select-test-suit.ts
+++ b/test-e2e/select-test-suit.ts
@@ -20,11 +20,21 @@ export class SelectTestSuit extends TestSuit {
   }
 
   async start(textInput?: string): Promise<void> {
-    await this.page.route('/test/data.json', async (route) => {
+    await this.page.route('**/data.json', async (route) => {
       await new Promise((f) => {
-        setTimeout(f, 1000);
+        setTimeout(f, 250);
+      });
+
+      const fakeData = [...new Array(10)].map((_, index) => ({
+        label: `Label ${index + 1}`,
+        value: `Value ${index + 1}`,
+      }));
+
+      await route.fulfill({
+        status: 200,
+        contentType: 'application/json',
+        body: JSON.stringify(fakeData),
       });
-      await route.continue();
     });
 
     await super.start(textInput);
diff --git a/test-e2e/test-suit.ts b/test-e2e/test-suit.ts
index bb19b94b..8bad9441 100644
--- a/test-e2e/test-suit.ts
+++ b/test-e2e/test-suit.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 import { expect, type Locator, type Page } from '@playwright/test';
-import { sanitise } from '../src/scripts/lib/utils';
 
 export class TestSuit {
   readonly testId: string;
@@ -48,7 +47,6 @@ export class TestSuit {
     await this.page.goto(this.url);
 
     await this.group.scrollIntoViewIfNeeded();
-    await this.advanceClock();
 
     if (textInput) {
       await this.typeTextAndEnter(textInput);
@@ -122,7 +120,6 @@ export class TestSuit {
     await this.advanceClock();
   }
 
-
   async expectVisibleDropdown(text?: string): Promise<void> {
     await this.advanceClock();
 
diff --git a/test-e2e/tests/select-multiple.spec.ts b/test-e2e/tests/select-multiple.spec.ts
index 6820ac53..7fab67f6 100644
--- a/test-e2e/tests/select-multiple.spec.ts
+++ b/test-e2e/tests/select-multiple.spec.ts
@@ -482,15 +482,12 @@ describe(`Choices - select multiple`, () => {
         const suite = new SelectTestSuit(page, bundle, testUrl, testId);
         await suite.start();
 
-        const placeholder = suite.itemsWithPlaceholder.first();
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveClass(/choices__placeholder/);
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveText('Loading...');
+        await expect(suite.input).toHaveAttribute('placeholder', 'Loading...');
 
         await jsonLoad;
         await suite.selectByClick();
 
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveClass(/choices__placeholder/);
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveText('I am a placeholder');
+        await expect(suite.input).toHaveAttribute('placeholder', 'I am a placeholder');
         await expect(suite.selectableChoices).toHaveCount(10);
       });
     });
diff --git a/test-e2e/tests/select-one.spec.ts b/test-e2e/tests/select-one.spec.ts
index 7f82e334..86009dc5 100644
--- a/test-e2e/tests/select-one.spec.ts
+++ b/test-e2e/tests/select-one.spec.ts
@@ -405,15 +405,14 @@ describe(`Choices - select one`, () => {
         const suite = new SelectTestSuit(page, bundle, testUrl, testId);
         await suite.start();
 
-        const placeholder = suite.itemsWithPlaceholder.first();
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveClass(/choices__placeholder/);
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveText('Loading...');
+        await expect(suite.itemList.first()).toHaveText('Loading...');
 
         await jsonLoad;
         await suite.selectByClick();
 
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveClass(/choices__placeholder/);
-        await expect(placeholder).toHaveText('I am a placeholder');
+        const firstItem = suite.itemsWithPlaceholder.first();
+        await expect(firstItem).toHaveClass(/choices__placeholder/);
+        await expect(firstItem).toHaveText('I am a placeholder');
         await expect(suite.selectableChoices).toHaveCount(10);
       });
     });
diff --git a/test/scripts/templates.test.ts b/test/scripts/templates.test.ts
index e5480b34..b560b0a9 100644
--- a/test/scripts/templates.test.ts
+++ b/test/scripts/templates.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import { expect } from 'chai';
 // eslint-disable-next-line import/no-named-default
 import { default as _templates } from '../../src/scripts/templates';
-import { strToEl, getClassNames, canUseDom } from '../../src/scripts/lib/utils';
+import { strToEl, getClassNames } from '../../src/scripts/lib/utils';
 import { DEFAULT_CLASSNAMES, DEFAULT_CONFIG, Options, ClassNames } from '../../src';
 import { NoticeTypes, Templates as TemplatesInterface } from '../../src/scripts/interfaces/templates';