diff --git a/dynamic.c b/dynamic.c
index 346a7b3434..5c5baee117 100644
--- a/dynamic.c
+++ b/dynamic.c
@@ -1312,7 +1312,7 @@ bool rarch_environment_cb(unsigned cmd, void *data)
             if (cmd == RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_EXEC_ESCAPE)
             {
                RARCH_LOG("Environ (Private) EXEC_ESCAPE.\n");
-               global->exec = true;
+               rarch_main_ctl(RARCH_MAIN_CTL_SET_EXEC, NULL);
             }
             else
                RARCH_LOG("Environ (Private) EXEC.\n");
diff --git a/runloop.c b/runloop.c
index 8634ef6e1e..3ec0bcc22b 100644
--- a/runloop.c
+++ b/runloop.c
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@
 
 static struct global g_extern;
 
+static bool main_exec;
 static bool main_core_shutdown_initiated;
 static bool main_is_idle;
 static bool main_is_paused;
@@ -796,6 +797,9 @@ bool rarch_main_ctl(enum rarch_main_ctl_state state, void *data)
       case RARCH_MAIN_CTL_SET_CORE_SHUTDOWN:
          main_core_shutdown_initiated = true;
          break;
+      case RARCH_MAIN_CTL_SET_EXEC:
+         main_exec = true;
+         break;
       default:
          return false;
    }
@@ -935,12 +939,12 @@ static INLINE int rarch_main_iterate_time_to_exit(event_cmd_state_t *cmd)
    video_driver_ctl(RARCH_DISPLAY_CTL_GET_FRAME_COUNT, &frame_count);
    frame_count_end               = main_max_frames && (*frame_count >= main_max_frames);
 
-   if (shutdown_pressed || frame_count_end || movie_end || !video_alive || global->exec)
+   if (shutdown_pressed || frame_count_end || movie_end || !video_alive || main_exec)
    {
       settings_t *settings       = config_get_ptr();
 
-      if (global->exec)
-         global->exec = false;
+      if (main_exec)
+         main_exec = false;
 
       /* Quits out of RetroArch main loop.
        * On special case, loads dummy core
diff --git a/runloop.h b/runloop.h
index 48df1b906b..5e94b5be57 100644
--- a/runloop.h
+++ b/runloop.h
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ enum rarch_main_ctl_state
    RARCH_MAIN_CTL_STATE_FREE,
    RARCH_MAIN_CTL_GLOBAL_FREE,
    RARCH_MAIN_CTL_SET_CORE_SHUTDOWN,
+   RARCH_MAIN_CTL_SET_EXEC,
    /* Checks for state changes in this frame. */
    RARCH_MAIN_CTL_CHECK_STATE,
    RARCH_MAIN_CTL_CHECK_MOVIE,
@@ -200,8 +201,6 @@ typedef struct global
    } menu;
 #endif
 
-   bool exec;
-
    struct
    {
       /* Rewind support. */