diff --git a/.changeset/slimy-horses-yawn.md b/.changeset/slimy-horses-yawn.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d59dcc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/slimy-horses-yawn.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@jspsych/plugin-emoji-screen": patch
+---
+
+make sure the new emoji added to the canvas is not the same as the previous one
diff --git a/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.spec.ts b/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.spec.ts
index 58eb3c2..d2b016b 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.spec.ts
@@ -68,6 +68,28 @@ describe("emoji-screen", () => {
     expect(emojiElements.length).toBe(3);
   });
 
+  it("does not place the same emoji", async () => {
+    const { displayElement } = await startTimeline([
+      {
+        type: emojiScreen,
+        emojis: ["😀", "🎉"],
+      },
+    ]);
+
+    const canvas = displayElement.querySelector<HTMLDivElement>("#jspsych-emoji-screen-canvas");
+
+    for (let i = 0; i < 3; i++) {
+      canvas.dispatchEvent(
+        new MouseEvent("click", { clientX: 10 + i * 50, clientY: 10, bubbles: true })
+      );
+    }
+
+    const emojiElements = canvas.querySelectorAll("span[data-emoji]");
+    for (let i = 1; i < emojiElements.length; i++) {
+      expect(emojiElements[i].textContent).not.toBe(emojiElements[i - 1].textContent);
+    }
+  });
+
   it("ends the trial when the key_to_finish key is pressed", async () => {
     const { expectFinished, getData } = await startTimeline([
       {
diff --git a/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.ts b/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.ts
index 87d2050..9b62dcd 100644
--- a/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/plugin-emoji-screen/src/index.ts
@@ -97,8 +97,16 @@ class EmojiScreenPlugin implements JsPsychPlugin<Info> {
       const x = Math.round(event.clientX - rect.left);
       const y = Math.round(event.clientY - rect.top);
 
-      // Pick a random emoji from the pool
-      const emoji = trial.emojis[Math.floor(Math.random() * trial.emojis.length)];
+      // Pick a random emoji from the pool (different from the previous one)
+
+      const lastEmoji = emoji_locations.at(-1)?.emoji;
+      let emoji = trial.emojis[Math.floor(Math.random() * trial.emojis.length)];
+      if (emoji_locations.length > 0 && emoji === lastEmoji) {
+        const availableEmojis = trial.emojis.filter(e => e !== lastEmoji);
+        emoji = availableEmojis.length > 0
+        ? availableEmojis[Math.floor(Math.random() * availableEmojis.length)]
+        : lastEmoji;
+      }
 
       // Place the emoji at the click location
       const emojiEl = document.createElement("span");
@@ -162,10 +170,18 @@ class EmojiScreenPlugin implements JsPsychPlugin<Info> {
     const num_clicks = this.jsPsych.randomization.randomInt(1, 5);
     const simulated_locations: EmojiLocation[] = [];
     for (let i = 0; i < num_clicks; i++) {
+      const lastEmoji = simulated_locations.at(-1)?.emoji;
+      let emoji = trial.emojis[this.jsPsych.randomization.randomInt(0, trial.emojis.length - 1)];
+      if (simulated_locations.length > 0 && emoji === lastEmoji) {
+        const availableEmojis = trial.emojis.filter(e => e !== lastEmoji);
+        emoji = availableEmojis.length > 0
+        ? availableEmojis[this.jsPsych.randomization.randomInt(0, availableEmojis.length - 1)]
+        : lastEmoji;
+      }
       simulated_locations.push({
         x: this.jsPsych.randomization.randomInt(0, 800),
         y: this.jsPsych.randomization.randomInt(0, 400),
-        emoji: trial.emojis[this.jsPsych.randomization.randomInt(0, trial.emojis.length - 1)],
+        emoji: emoji,
       });
     }