diff --git a/packages/display/src/DisplayObject.ts b/packages/display/src/DisplayObject.ts
index d9a8269069..85dcff6207 100644
--- a/packages/display/src/DisplayObject.ts
+++ b/packages/display/src/DisplayObject.ts
@@ -410,7 +410,8 @@ export abstract class DisplayObject extends EventEmitter
      */
 
     /**
-     * Fired when this DisplayObject is destroyed.
+     * Fired when this DisplayObject is destroyed. This event is emitted once
+     * destroy is finished.
      *
      * @instance
      * @event destroyed
@@ -714,8 +715,7 @@ export abstract class DisplayObject extends EventEmitter
         {
             this.parent.removeChild(this);
         }
-        this.emit('destroyed');
-        this.removeAllListeners();
+        this._destroyed = true;
         this.transform = null;
 
         this.parent = null;
@@ -730,7 +730,8 @@ export abstract class DisplayObject extends EventEmitter
         this.interactive = false;
         this.interactiveChildren = false;
 
-        this._destroyed = true;
+        this.emit('destroyed');
+        this.removeAllListeners();
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/packages/display/test/DisplayObject.tests.ts b/packages/display/test/DisplayObject.tests.ts
index a4df3c6c1a..b609451b85 100755
--- a/packages/display/test/DisplayObject.tests.ts
+++ b/packages/display/test/DisplayObject.tests.ts
@@ -265,5 +265,29 @@ describe('DisplayObject', function ()
 
             expect(listener.calledOnce).to.be.true;
         });
+
+        it('should trigger destroyed listeners once destruction is complete', function ()
+        {
+            let listenerCallCount = 0;
+            const child = new DisplayObject();
+            const container = new Container();
+
+            child.on('destroyed', () =>
+            {
+                listenerCallCount++;
+                expect(child.destroyed).to.be.true;
+                expect(child.parent).to.be.null;
+            });
+
+            container.addChild(child);
+            container.removeChild(child);
+
+            expect(listenerCallCount).to.equal(0);
+
+            container.addChild(child);
+            child.destroy();
+
+            expect(listenerCallCount).to.equal(1);
+        });
     });
 });