diff --git a/zndraw/zndraw.py b/zndraw/zndraw.py
index 7caffaea1..a2b4aea00 100644
--- a/zndraw/zndraw.py
+++ b/zndraw/zndraw.py
@@ -155,7 +155,9 @@ def on_size(size):
     def _set_item(self, index, value):
         assert isinstance(value, ase.Atoms), "Must be an ASE Atoms object"
         assert isinstance(index, int), "Index must be an integer"
-        if self.bonds_calculator is not None:
+        if hasattr(value, "connectivity"):
+            pass
+        elif self.bonds_calculator is not None:
             value.connectivity = self.bonds_calculator.build_graph(value)
         else:
             value.connectivity = nx.Graph()