diff --git a/packages/cookie-banner/src/activation.ts b/packages/cookie-banner/src/activation.ts
index 2e6184a6c..b5e7e03bb 100644
--- a/packages/cookie-banner/src/activation.ts
+++ b/packages/cookie-banner/src/activation.ts
@@ -383,29 +383,6 @@ export function deactivateElements(
   }
 }
 
-export function activateElements(
-  consentData: Record<string, boolean>,
-): void {
-  const elements = document.querySelectorAll(`[${ATTR_CATEGORY}]`);
-  for (const el of elements) {
-    tryActivate(el, consentData);
-  }
-}
-
-export function addPlaceholders(
-  consentData: Record<string, boolean>,
-  categoryLabels: Record<string, string>,
-  texts?: BannerTexts,
-): void {
-  const elements = document.querySelectorAll(`[${ATTR_CATEGORY}]`);
-  for (const el of elements) {
-    const category = el.getAttribute(ATTR_CATEGORY);
-    if (!category || consentData[category]) continue;
-    if (!VISUAL_TAGS.has(el.tagName)) continue;
-    createPlaceholder(el, category, categoryLabels[category], texts);
-  }
-}
-
 function tryPlaceholder(
   el: Element,
   consentData: Record<string, boolean>,
@@ -423,6 +400,12 @@ export function observeAndActivate(
   categoryLabels: Record<string, string>,
   texts?: BannerTexts,
 ): MutationObserver {
+  const existing = document.querySelectorAll(`[${ATTR_CATEGORY}]`);
+  for (const el of existing) {
+    tryActivate(el, consentData);
+    tryPlaceholder(el, consentData, categoryLabels, texts);
+  }
+
   const observer = new MutationObserver((mutations) => {
     for (const mutation of mutations) {
       for (const node of mutation.addedNodes) {
diff --git a/packages/cookie-banner/src/client.ts b/packages/cookie-banner/src/client.ts
index ab5e9936b..37d7a0434 100644
--- a/packages/cookie-banner/src/client.ts
+++ b/packages/cookie-banner/src/client.ts
@@ -13,8 +13,6 @@
 // PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
 
 import {
-  activateElements,
-  addPlaceholders,
   deactivateElements,
   observeAndActivate,
 } from "./activation";
@@ -180,6 +178,8 @@ export class CookieBannerClient {
     if (!this.consent && this.gpcDetected) {
       this.gpc();
       this._gpcApplied = true;
+    } else if (!this.consent) {
+      this.activate(this.buildDefaultConsentData());
     }
 
     void flush(this.bannerId);
@@ -294,6 +294,16 @@ export class CookieBannerClient {
       .catch(() => enqueue(this.bannerId, url.href, body));
   }
 
+  private buildDefaultConsentData(): Record<string, boolean> {
+    const cfg = this.config;
+    const consentData: Record<string, boolean> = {};
+    for (const cat of cfg.categories) {
+      consentData[cat.slug] =
+        cfg.consent_mode === "OPT_OUT" || cat.kind === "NECESSARY";
+    }
+    return consentData;
+  }
+
   private activate(consentData: Record<string, boolean>): void {
     for (const integration of this.integrations) {
       integration.update(this.config.categories, consentData);
@@ -308,8 +318,6 @@ export class CookieBannerClient {
 
     const texts = this.config.texts;
     deactivateElements(consentData, categoryCookies, categoryLabels, texts);
-    activateElements(consentData);
-    addPlaceholders(consentData, categoryLabels, texts);
     if (this.observer) {
       this.observer.disconnect();
     }