--- debian/plymouth.plymouth-shutdown.upstart.orig	2014-03-13 13:43:42.000000000 +0000
+++ debian/plymouth.plymouth-shutdown.upstart	2015-02-02 17:05:54.136264252 +0000
@@ -18,8 +18,11 @@
     status lightdm >/dev/null 2>/dev/null && start wait-for-state WAITER=plymouth-shutdown WAIT_FOR=lightdm TARGET_GOAL=stop WAIT_STATE=waiting || :
 end script
 
-exec /sbin/plymouthd --mode=shutdown
-
-post-start exec /bin/plymouth show-splash
+script
+    /sbin/plymouthd --mode=shutdown
+    # race condition - wait for plymouthd to start (LP: #966480)
+    while ! plymouth --ping; do sleep 1; done
+    /bin/plymouth show-splash
+end script
 
 pre-stop exec /bin/plymouth quit