diff --git a/.changeset/tidy-owls-repeat.md b/.changeset/tidy-owls-repeat.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2ef02e2051
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/tidy-owls-repeat.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+'svelte': patch
+---
+
+perf: treat `<img loading>` as a static element again
diff --git a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/shared/fragment.js b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/shared/fragment.js
index 38346e64b2..72104481ec 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/shared/fragment.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/src/compiler/phases/3-transform/client/visitors/shared/fragment.js
@@ -171,11 +171,6 @@ export function is_static_element(node) {
 			return false;
 		}
 
-		// We need to apply src and loading after appending the img to the DOM for lazy loading to work
-		if (node.name === 'img' && attribute.name === 'loading') {
-			return false;
-		}
-
 		if (attribute.value !== true && !is_text_attribute(attribute)) {
 			return false;
 		}
diff --git a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client/index.svelte.js b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
index 78147659ff..85f7601bd7 100644
--- a/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
+++ b/packages/svelte/tests/snapshot/samples/skip-static-subtree/_expected/client/index.svelte.js
@@ -40,10 +40,7 @@ export default function Skip_static_subtree($$anchor, $$props) {
 
 	option.value = option.__value = 'a';
 	$.reset(select);
-
-	var img = $.sibling(select, 2);
-
-	$.next(2);
+	$.next(4);
 	$.template_effect(() => $.set_text(text, $$props.title));
 	$.append($$anchor, fragment);
 }
\ No newline at end of file