diff --git a/src/lib/elementary/efl_ui_layout.c b/src/lib/elementary/efl_ui_layout.c
--- a/src/lib/elementary/efl_ui_layout.c
+++ b/src/lib/elementary/efl_ui_layout.c
@@ -2399,17 +2399,20 @@
    obj = efl_constructor(efl_super(obj, MY_CLASS));
    evas_object_smart_callbacks_descriptions_set(obj, _smart_callbacks);
    efl_access_object_role_set(obj, EFL_ACCESS_ROLE_FILLER);
+   if (elm_widget_theme_klass_get(obj))
+     sd->theme_applied_in_constructor = !efl_ui_widget_theme_apply(obj);
 
    return obj;
 }
 
 EOLIAN static Efl_Object*
-_efl_ui_layout_base_efl_object_finalize(Eo *obj, Efl_Ui_Layout_Data *pd EINA_UNUSED)
+_efl_ui_layout_base_efl_object_finalize(Eo *obj, Efl_Ui_Layout_Data *sd)
 {
    Eo *eo, *win;
    ELM_WIDGET_DATA_GET_OR_RETURN(obj, wd, NULL);
    eo = efl_finalize(efl_super(obj, MY_CLASS));
-   efl_ui_widget_theme_apply(eo);
+   if (!sd->theme_applied_in_constructor)
+     efl_ui_widget_theme_apply(eo);
 
    win = elm_widget_top_get(obj);
    if (efl_isa(win, EFL_UI_WIN_CLASS))
diff --git a/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget_layout.h b/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget_layout.h
--- a/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget_layout.h
+++ b/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget_layout.h
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
    Eina_Bool             destructed_is : 1; /**< This flag indicates if Efl.Ui.Layout destructor was called. This is needed to avoid unnecessary calculation of subobject deletion during layout object's deletion. */
    Eina_Bool             file_set : 1; /**< This flag indicates if Efl.Ui.Layout source is set from a file*/
    Eina_Bool             automatic_orientation_apply : 1;
+   Eina_Bool             theme_applied_in_constructor : 1; /**< theme_apply succeeded in constructor; skip in finalize */
 } Efl_Ui_Layout_Data;
 
 /**