diff --git a/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx b/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx
index a8917f10b..a47aec8cd 100644
--- a/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx
+++ b/src/GEOM/GEOM_Engine.cxx
@@ -233,7 +233,13 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOM_Engine::AddObject(int theDocID, int theType)
     if (_lastCleared.Root() == aDoc->Main().Root()) {
       useExisting = true;
       aChild = _lastCleared;
-      _lastCleared.Nullify();
+      // 0020229: if next label exists and is empty, try to reuse it
+      Standard_Integer aNextTag = aChild.Tag() + 1;
+      TDF_Label aNextL = aDoc->Main().FindChild(aNextTag, Standard_False);
+      if (!aNextL.IsNull() && !aNextL.HasAttribute())
+        _lastCleared = aNextL;
+      else
+        _lastCleared.Nullify();
     }
   }
   if (!useExisting) {
@@ -273,7 +279,13 @@ Handle(GEOM_Object) GEOM_Engine::AddSubShape(Handle(GEOM_Object) theMainShape,
     if (_lastCleared.Root() == aDoc->Main().Root()) {
       useExisting = true;
       aChild = _lastCleared;
-      _lastCleared.Nullify();
+      // 0020229: if next label exists and is empty, try to reuse it
+      Standard_Integer aNextTag = aChild.Tag() + 1;
+      TDF_Label aNextL = aDoc->Main().FindChild(aNextTag, Standard_False);
+      if (!aNextL.IsNull() && !aNextL.HasAttribute())
+        _lastCleared = aNextL;
+      else
+        _lastCleared.Nullify();
     }
   }
   if (!useExisting) {