diff --git a/library/src/meta/counter.rs b/library/src/meta/counter.rs
index fb656c766..1d8e642d7 100644
--- a/library/src/meta/counter.rs
+++ b/library/src/meta/counter.rs
@@ -583,6 +583,10 @@ struct DisplayElem {
 
 impl Show for DisplayElem {
     fn show(&self, vt: &mut Vt, styles: StyleChain) -> SourceResult<Content> {
+        if !vt.introspector.init() {
+            return Ok(Content::empty());
+        }
+
         let location = self.0.location().unwrap();
         let counter = self.counter();
         let numbering = self
diff --git a/library/src/meta/state.rs b/library/src/meta/state.rs
index 110735946..3e6d65b27 100644
--- a/library/src/meta/state.rs
+++ b/library/src/meta/state.rs
@@ -393,6 +393,10 @@ struct DisplayElem {
 
 impl Show for DisplayElem {
     fn show(&self, vt: &mut Vt, _: StyleChain) -> SourceResult<Content> {
+        if !vt.introspector.init() {
+            return Ok(Content::empty());
+        }
+
         let location = self.0.location().unwrap();
         let value = self.state().at(vt, location)?;
         Ok(match self.func() {