diff --git a/content.h b/content.h
index 6f2997358a..eb42714131 100644
--- a/content.h
+++ b/content.h
@@ -82,10 +82,13 @@ bool content_reset_savestate_backups(void);
 bool content_undo_load_buf_is_empty(void);
 bool content_undo_save_buf_is_empty(void);
 
-/* Clears the pending subsystem rom buffer*/
+/* Checks if launched from the commandline */
+bool content_launched_from_cli(void);
+
+/* Clears the pending subsystem rom buffer */
 bool content_is_subsystem_pending_load(void);
 
-/* Clears the pending subsystem rom buffer*/
+/* Clears the pending subsystem rom buffer */
 void content_clear_subsystem(void);
 
 /* Set the current subsystem*/
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index 410e284f35..d91d90c48d 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -1406,9 +1406,12 @@ bool retroarch_main_init(int argc, char *argv[])
    /* Handle core initialization failure */
    if (init_failed)
    {
-#ifdef HAVE_MENU
       /* Check if menu was active prior to core initialization */
-      if (menu_driver_is_alive())
+      if (!content_launched_from_cli()
+#ifdef HAVE_MENU
+          || menu_driver_is_alive()
+#endif
+         )
       {
          /* Attempt initializing dummy core */
          current_core_type = CORE_TYPE_DUMMY;
@@ -1416,7 +1419,6 @@ bool retroarch_main_init(int argc, char *argv[])
             goto error;
       }
       else
-#endif
       {
          /* Fall back to regular error handling */
          goto error;
diff --git a/tasks/task_content.c b/tasks/task_content.c
index da1f02dc9c..25bed6a350 100644
--- a/tasks/task_content.c
+++ b/tasks/task_content.c
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@ struct content_information_ctx
 };
 
 static struct string_list *temporary_content                  = NULL;
+static bool _launched_from_cli                                = true;
 static bool _content_is_inited                                = false;
 static bool core_does_not_need_content                        = false;
 static uint32_t content_rom_crc                               = 0;
@@ -1603,6 +1604,8 @@ bool task_push_load_content_with_new_core_from_companion_ui(
    command_event(CMD_EVENT_LOAD_CORE, NULL);
 #endif
 
+   _launched_from_cli = false;
+
    /* Load content */
    if (!task_load_content_callback(content_info, true, false))
       return false;
@@ -1758,6 +1761,12 @@ void content_clear_subsystem(void)
    }
 }
 
+/* Checks if launched from the commandline */
+bool content_launched_from_cli()
+{
+   return _launched_from_cli;
+}
+
 /* Get the current subsystem */
 int content_get_subsystem()
 {