diff --git a/tensorboard/plugins/image/summary_v2.py b/tensorboard/plugins/image/summary_v2.py
index 9a5e8c2b9a..de184bb611 100644
--- a/tensorboard/plugins/image/summary_v2.py
+++ b/tensorboard/plugins/image/summary_v2.py
@@ -68,21 +68,25 @@ def image(name,
       tf.summary.summary_scope)
   with summary_scope(
       name, 'image_summary', values=[data, max_outputs, step]) as (tag, _):
-    tf.debugging.assert_rank(data, 4)
-    tf.debugging.assert_non_negative(max_outputs)
-    images = tf.image.convert_image_dtype(data, tf.uint8, saturate=True)
-    limited_images = images[:max_outputs]
-    encoded_images = tf.map_fn(tf.image.encode_png, limited_images,
-                               dtype=tf.string,
-                               name='encode_each_image')
-    # Workaround for map_fn returning float dtype for an empty elems input.
-    encoded_images = tf.cond(
-        tf.shape(input=encoded_images)[0] > 0,
-        lambda: encoded_images, lambda: tf.constant([], tf.string))
-    image_shape = tf.shape(input=images)
-    dimensions = tf.stack([tf.as_string(image_shape[2], name='width'),
-                           tf.as_string(image_shape[1], name='height')],
-                          name='dimensions')
-    tensor = tf.concat([dimensions, encoded_images], axis=0)
+    def _encode_image_data():
+      tf.debugging.assert_rank(data, 4)
+      tf.debugging.assert_non_negative(max_outputs)
+      images = tf.image.convert_image_dtype(data, tf.uint8, saturate=True)
+      limited_images = images[:max_outputs]
+      encoded_images = tf.map_fn(tf.image.encode_png, limited_images,
+                                 dtype=tf.string,
+                                 name='encode_each_image')
+      # Workaround for map_fn returning float dtype for an empty elems input.
+      encoded_images = tf.cond(
+          tf.shape(input=encoded_images)[0] > 0,
+          lambda: encoded_images, lambda: tf.constant([], tf.string))
+      image_shape = tf.shape(input=images)
+      dimensions = tf.stack([tf.as_string(image_shape[2], name='width'),
+                             tf.as_string(image_shape[1], name='height')],
+                            name='dimensions')
+      return tf.concat([dimensions, encoded_images], axis=0)
+
+    # To ensure that image encoding logic is only executed when summaries
+    # are written, we pass callable to `tensor` parameter.
     return tf.summary.write(
-        tag=tag, tensor=tensor, step=step, metadata=summary_metadata)
+        tag=tag, tensor=_encode_image_data, step=step, metadata=summary_metadata)