diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/World/WorldMap/WorldMapModule.cs b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/World/WorldMap/WorldMapModule.cs
index 6e142bb2da..fac2dabd1e 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/World/WorldMap/WorldMapModule.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/CoreModules/World/WorldMap/WorldMapModule.cs
@@ -1110,14 +1110,12 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.World.WorldMap
             if (data == null)
                 return;
             
-            UUID lastMapRegionUUID = m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionSettings.TerrainImageID;
-
             m_log.Debug("[WORLDMAP]: STORING MAPTILE IMAGE");
 
-            m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionSettings.TerrainImageID = UUID.Random();
+            UUID terrainImageID = UUID.Random();
 
             AssetBase asset = new AssetBase(
-                m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionSettings.TerrainImageID,
+                terrainImageID,
                 "terrainImage_" + m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionID.ToString(),
                 (sbyte)AssetType.Texture,
                 m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionID.ToString());
@@ -1129,6 +1127,10 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.CoreModules.World.WorldMap
             // Store the new one
             m_log.DebugFormat("[WORLDMAP]: Storing map tile {0}", asset.ID);
             m_scene.AssetService.Store(asset);
+            
+            // Switch to the new one
+            UUID lastMapRegionUUID = m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionSettings.TerrainImageID;
+            m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionSettings.TerrainImageID = terrainImageID;
             m_scene.RegionInfo.RegionSettings.Save();
             
             // Delete the old one
diff --git a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
index 6e666322f1..32a288724a 100644
--- a/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
+++ b/OpenSim/Region/Framework/Scenes/Scene.cs
@@ -1672,20 +1672,20 @@ namespace OpenSim.Region.Framework.Scenes
 
             m_sceneGridService.SetScene(this);
 
-            // If we generate maptiles internally at all, the maptile generator
-            // will register the region. If not, do it here
+            GridRegion region = new GridRegion(RegionInfo);
+            string error = GridService.RegisterRegion(RegionInfo.ScopeID, region);
+            if (error != String.Empty)
+            {
+                throw new Exception(error);
+            }
+
+            // Generate the maptile asynchronously, because sometimes it can be very slow and we
+            // don't want this to delay starting the region.
             if (m_generateMaptiles)
             {
-                RegenerateMaptile(null, null);
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                GridRegion region = new GridRegion(RegionInfo);
-                string error = GridService.RegisterRegion(RegionInfo.ScopeID, region);
-                if (error != String.Empty)
-                {
-                    throw new Exception(error);
-                }
+                Util.FireAndForget(delegate {
+                    RegenerateMaptile(null, null);
+                });
             }
         }