diff --git a/runloop.c b/runloop.c
index 9ad547fc2a..c7833cb344 100644
--- a/runloop.c
+++ b/runloop.c
@@ -878,6 +878,9 @@ static int rarch_main_iterate_quit(void)
 #ifdef HAVE_OVERLAY
 void rarch_main_iterate_overlay_state(void)
 {
+   if (g_runloop.is_idle)
+      return;
+
    switch (driver.overlay->state)
    {
       case OVERLAY_STATUS_NONE: