diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in
index 2c640567f17..bb9b2ed0846 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/qgsmaplayer.sip.in
@@ -1436,6 +1436,8 @@ Returns the layer's elevation properties. This may be ``None``, depending on the
 Returns path to the placeholder image or an empty string if a generated legend is shown
 
 :return: placholder image path
+
+.. versionadded:: 3.22
 %End
 
     void setLegendPlaceholderImage( const QString &imgPath );
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
index b39bfcc158c..c5ac3beb4cd 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsmaplayer.h
@@ -1282,6 +1282,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsMapLayer : public QObject
     /**
      * Returns path to the placeholder image or an empty string if a generated legend is shown
      * \return placholder image path
+     * \since QGIS 3.22
      */
     QString legendPlaceholderImage() const { return mLegendPlaceholderImage;}
 
diff --git a/src/core/qgsmaplayerlegend.cpp b/src/core/qgsmaplayerlegend.cpp
index d95251d2a61..1c06baffab9 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsmaplayerlegend.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsmaplayerlegend.cpp
@@ -365,9 +365,8 @@ QList<QgsLayerTreeModelLegendNode *> QgsDefaultVectorLayerLegend::createLayerTre
     QString placeholderImage = mLayer->legendPlaceholderImage();
     if ( !placeholderImage.isEmpty() )
     {
-      QgsImageCache ic;
       bool fitsInCache;
-      QImage img = ic.pathAsImage( placeholderImage, QSize(), false, 1.0, fitsInCache );
+      QImage img = QgsApplication::imageCache()->pathAsImage( placeholderImage, QSize(), false, 1.0, fitsInCache );
       nodes << new QgsImageLegendNode( nodeLayer, img );
       return nodes;
     }
@@ -519,9 +518,8 @@ QList<QgsLayerTreeModelLegendNode *> QgsDefaultRasterLayerLegend::createLayerTre
   QString placeholderImage = mLayer->legendPlaceholderImage();
   if ( !placeholderImage.isEmpty() )
   {
-    QgsImageCache ic;
     bool fitsInCache;
-    QImage img = ic.pathAsImage( placeholderImage, QSize(), false, 1.0, fitsInCache );
+    QImage img = QgsApplication::imageCache()->pathAsImage( placeholderImage, QSize(), false, 1.0, fitsInCache );
     nodes << new QgsImageLegendNode( nodeLayer, img );
   }
   else if ( mLayer->renderer() )