diff --git a/modules/nameplates.lua b/modules/nameplates.lua
index 3cf122e4..8fad31e5 100644
--- a/modules/nameplates.lua
+++ b/modules/nameplates.lua
@@ -468,6 +468,7 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("nameplates", "vanilla:tbc", function ()
   end
 
   nameplates.OnDataChanged = function(self, plate)
+    local visible = plate:IsVisible()
     local hp = plate.original.healthbar:GetValue()
     local hpmin, hpmax = plate.original.healthbar:GetMinMaxValues()
     local name = plate.original.name:GetText()
@@ -482,6 +483,9 @@ pfUI:RegisterModule("nameplates", "vanilla:tbc", function ()
     elite = plate.original.levelicon:IsShown() and not player and "boss" or elite
     if not class then plate.wait_for_scan = true end
 
+    -- skip data updates on invisible frames
+    if not visible then return end
+
     -- target event sometimes fires too quickly, where nameplate identifiers are not
     -- yet updated. So while being inside this event, we cannot trust the unitstr.
     if event == "PLAYER_TARGET_CHANGED" then unitstr = nil end