diff --git a/py3status/modules/playerctl.py b/py3status/modules/playerctl.py
index e94c6a06b6..2fa1df6e83 100644
--- a/py3status/modules/playerctl.py
+++ b/py3status/modules/playerctl.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class Meta:
 
     def post_config_hook(self):
         self.thresholds_init = self.py3.get_color_names_list(self.format_player)
-        self.placeholders = self.py3.get_placeholders_list(self.format_player)
+        self.replacements = self.py3.get_replacements_list(self.format_player)
         self.position = self.py3.format_contains(self.format_player, "position")
         self.cache_timeout = getattr(self, "cache_timeout", 1)
 
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ def playerctl(self):
                 cached_until = self.cache_timeout
 
             # Replace the values
-            for x in self.placeholders:
+            for x in self.replacements:
                 if x in player_data:
                     player_data[x] = self.py3.replace(player_data[x], x)
 
diff --git a/py3status/modules/spotify.py b/py3status/modules/spotify.py
index 3d9fdf533b..7d650a4b22 100644
--- a/py3status/modules/spotify.py
+++ b/py3status/modules/spotify.py
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ def _get_text(self):
                 "playback": playback_status,
             }
 
-            # Replace the values
-            for x in self.placeholders:
+            # replace the values
+            for x in self.replacements:
                 if x in spotify_data:
                     spotify_data[x] = self.py3.replace(spotify_data[x], x)
 
@@ -153,6 +153,7 @@ def _get_text(self):
 
     def post_config_hook(self):
         self.placeholders = self.py3.get_placeholders_list(self.format)
+        self.replacements = self.py3.get_replacements_list(self.format)
 
     def spotify(self):
         """
diff --git a/py3status/py3.py b/py3status/py3.py
index b60a6e3f93..b0c069c338 100644
--- a/py3status/py3.py
+++ b/py3status/py3.py
@@ -727,6 +727,28 @@ def get_color_names_list(self, format_string, matches=None):
                     found.add(name)
         return list(found)
 
+    def get_replacements_list(self, format_string):
+        """
+        If possible, returns a list of filtered placeholders in ``format_string``.
+        """
+        replacements = getattr(self._py3status_module, "replacements", None)
+        if not replacements or not format_string:
+            return []
+
+        if format_string not in self._format_placeholders:
+            placeholders = self._formatter.get_placeholders(format_string)
+            self._format_placeholders[format_string] = placeholders
+        else:
+            placeholders = self._format_placeholders[format_string]
+
+        # filter placeholders
+        found = set()
+        for replacement in replacements:
+            for placeholder in placeholders:
+                if placeholder == replacement:
+                    found.add(placeholder)
+        return list(found or placeholders)
+
     def get_placeholders_list(self, format_string, matches=None):
         """
         Returns a list of placeholders in ``format_string``.