diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index ab5be3ac9e..79b3f64dd1 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -1182,6 +1182,10 @@ static void retroarch_main_init_media(void)
    if (!settings)
       return;
 
+   /* -L overrides internal cores */
+   if (!string_is_empty(path_get(RARCH_PATH_CORE)))
+      return;
+
    builtin_imageviewer      = settings->bools.multimedia_builtin_imageviewer_enable;
    builtin_mediaplayer      = settings->bools.multimedia_builtin_mediaplayer_enable;