diff --git a/Makefile.common b/Makefile.common
index 2a33ab7f5b..8a85c909b2 100644
--- a/Makefile.common
+++ b/Makefile.common
@@ -563,7 +563,8 @@ ifeq ($(HAVE_LIBRETRODB), 1)
           tasks/task_database_cue.o
 
    ifeq ($(HAVE_MENU), 1)
-      OBJ += menu/menu_explore.o
+      OBJ += menu/menu_explore.o \
+             tasks/task_menu_explore.o
    endif
 endif
 
diff --git a/griffin/griffin.c b/griffin/griffin.c
index f9b0f76c05..a418341aeb 100644
--- a/griffin/griffin.c
+++ b/griffin/griffin.c
@@ -1398,6 +1398,7 @@ MENU
 #include "../menu/menu_displaylist.c"
 #ifdef HAVE_LIBRETRODB
 #include "../menu/menu_explore.c"
+#include "../tasks/task_menu_explore.c"
 #endif
 #endif
 
diff --git a/intl/msg_hash_lbl.h b/intl/msg_hash_lbl.h
index 05bf95a6ca..5779d6a72a 100644
--- a/intl/msg_hash_lbl.h
+++ b/intl/msg_hash_lbl.h
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ MSG_HASH(
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_ITEM,
    "explore_item"
    )
+MSG_HASH(
+   MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST,
+   "explore_initialising_list"
+   )
 MSG_HASH(
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_ADD_TAB,
    "add_tab"
diff --git a/intl/msg_hash_us.h b/intl/msg_hash_us.h
index 48bb0c2948..e0904a468a 100644
--- a/intl/msg_hash_us.h
+++ b/intl/msg_hash_us.h
@@ -6201,6 +6201,10 @@ MSG_HASH(
    )
 
 /* Explore tab */
+MSG_HASH(
+   MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST,
+   "Initializing list..."
+   )
 MSG_HASH(
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_CATEGORY_RELEASE_YEAR,
    "Release Year"
diff --git a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_left.c b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_left.c
index 35e7faedb4..b3c6e545d5 100644
--- a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_left.c
+++ b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_left.c
@@ -1039,6 +1039,7 @@ static int menu_cbs_init_bind_left_compare_label(menu_file_list_cbs_t *cbs,
                break;
             case MENU_ENUM_LABEL_NO_ITEMS:
             case MENU_ENUM_LABEL_NO_PLAYLIST_ENTRIES_AVAILABLE:
+            case MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST:
                if (
                         string_ends_with_size(menu_label, "_tab",
                            strlen(menu_label),
diff --git a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_right.c b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_right.c
index 951fdcf322..b6ad0fa2ae 100644
--- a/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_right.c
+++ b/menu/cbs/menu_cbs_right.c
@@ -1160,6 +1160,7 @@ static int menu_cbs_init_bind_right_compare_label(menu_file_list_cbs_t *cbs,
                break;
             case MENU_ENUM_LABEL_NO_ITEMS:
             case MENU_ENUM_LABEL_NO_PLAYLIST_ENTRIES_AVAILABLE:
+            case MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST:
                if (
                      string_ends_with_size(menu_label, "_tab",
                         strlen(menu_label),
diff --git a/menu/menu_driver.h b/menu/menu_driver.h
index aaf01279f1..8e3c423caa 100644
--- a/menu/menu_driver.h
+++ b/menu/menu_driver.h
@@ -614,10 +614,15 @@ void menu_display_handle_wallpaper_upload(retro_task_t *task,
       void *user_data, const char *err);
 
 #if defined(HAVE_LIBRETRODB)
+typedef struct explore_state explore_state_t;
+explore_state_t *menu_explore_build_list(const char *directory_playlist,
+      const char *directory_database);
 uintptr_t menu_explore_get_entry_icon(unsigned type);
 void menu_explore_context_init(void);
 void menu_explore_context_deinit(void);
+void menu_explore_free_state(explore_state_t *state);
 void menu_explore_free(void);
+void menu_explore_set_state(explore_state_t *state);
 #endif
 
 /* Returns true if search filter is enabled
diff --git a/menu/menu_explore.c b/menu/menu_explore.c
index ea5877ed11..02b2631d7c 100644
--- a/menu/menu_explore.c
+++ b/menu/menu_explore.c
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "../configuration.h"
 #include "../playlist.h"
 #include "../libretro-db/libretrodb.h"
+#include "../tasks/tasks_internal.h"
 #include <compat/strcasestr.h>
 #include <compat/strl.h>
 #include <array/rbuf.h>
@@ -81,7 +82,7 @@ typedef struct
 #endif
 } explore_entry_t;
 
-typedef struct 
+struct explore_state
 {
    ex_arena arena; /* ptr alignment */
    explore_string_t **by[EXPLORE_CAT_COUNT];
@@ -95,7 +96,8 @@ typedef struct
    char title[1024];
    char find_string[1024];
    bool has_unknown[EXPLORE_CAT_COUNT];
-} explore_state_t;
+   bool menu_initialised;
+};
 
 static const struct
 {
@@ -329,26 +331,6 @@ static void explore_unload_icons(explore_state_t *state)
          video_driver_texture_unload(&state->icons[i]);
 }
 
-static void explore_free(explore_state_t *state)
-{
-   unsigned i;
-   if (!state)
-      return;
-   for (i = 0; i != EXPLORE_CAT_COUNT; i++)
-      RBUF_FREE(state->by[i]);
-
-   RBUF_FREE(state->entries);
-
-   for (i = 0; i != RBUF_LEN(state->playlists); i++)
-      playlist_free(state->playlists[i]);
-   RBUF_FREE(state->playlists);
-
-   explore_unload_icons(state);
-   RBUF_FREE(state->icons);
-
-   ex_arena_free(&state->arena);
-}
-
 static void explore_load_icons(explore_state_t *state)
 {
    char path[PATH_MAX_LENGTH];
@@ -399,7 +381,8 @@ static void explore_load_icons(explore_state_t *state)
    }
 }
 
-static explore_state_t *explore_build_list(settings_t *settings)
+explore_state_t *menu_explore_build_list(const char *directory_playlist,
+      const char *directory_database)
 {
    unsigned i;
    char tmp[PATH_MAX_LENGTH];
@@ -415,8 +398,6 @@ static explore_state_t *explore_build_list(settings_t *settings)
    int *rdb_indices                               = NULL;
    explore_string_t **cat_maps[EXPLORE_CAT_COUNT] = {NULL};
    explore_string_t **split_buf                   = NULL;
-   const char *directory_playlist                 = settings->paths.directory_playlist;
-   const char *directory_database                 = settings->paths.path_content_database;
    libretro_vfs_implementation_dir *dir           = NULL;
 
    explore_state_t *explore                       = (explore_state_t*)calloc(
@@ -740,6 +721,14 @@ static explore_state_t *explore_build_list(settings_t *settings)
    return explore;
 }
 
+static int explore_action_get_title_default(
+      const char *path, const char *label,
+      unsigned menu_type, char *s, size_t len)
+{
+   strlcpy(s, msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_TAB), len);
+   return 0;
+}
+
 static int explore_action_get_title(
       const char *path, const char *label,
       unsigned menu_type, char *s, size_t len)
@@ -844,9 +833,32 @@ unsigned menu_displaylist_explore(file_list_t *list,
 
    if (!explore_state)
    {
-      explore_state             = explore_build_list(settings);
+      if (!menu_explore_init_in_progress(NULL))
+         task_push_menu_explore_init(
+               settings->paths.directory_playlist,
+               settings->paths.path_content_database);
+
+      menu_entries_append_enum(list,
+            msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST),
+            msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST),
+            MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST,
+            FILE_TYPE_NONE, 0, 0);
+
+      if (menu_stack->size > 1)
+      {
+         struct item_file *stack   = &menu_stack->list[menu_stack->size - 1];
+         menu_file_list_cbs_t* cbs = ((menu_file_list_cbs_t*)stack->actiondata);
+         cbs->action_get_title     = explore_action_get_title_default;
+      }
+
+      return list->size;
+   }
+
+   if (!explore_state->menu_initialised)
+   {
       explore_state->top_depth  = (unsigned)menu_stack->size - 1;
       explore_load_icons(explore_state);
+      explore_state->menu_initialised = true;
    }
 
    if (menu_stack->size > 1)
@@ -1223,12 +1235,43 @@ void menu_explore_context_deinit(void)
    explore_unload_icons(explore_state);
 }
 
+void menu_explore_free_state(explore_state_t *state)
+{
+   unsigned i;
+   if (!state)
+      return;
+   for (i = 0; i != EXPLORE_CAT_COUNT; i++)
+      RBUF_FREE(state->by[i]);
+
+   RBUF_FREE(state->entries);
+
+   for (i = 0; i != RBUF_LEN(state->playlists); i++)
+      playlist_free(state->playlists[i]);
+   RBUF_FREE(state->playlists);
+
+   explore_unload_icons(state);
+   RBUF_FREE(state->icons);
+
+   ex_arena_free(&state->arena);
+}
+
 void menu_explore_free(void)
 {
    if (!explore_state)
       return;
 
-   explore_free(explore_state);
+   menu_explore_free_state(explore_state);
    free(explore_state);
    explore_state = NULL;
 }
+
+void menu_explore_set_state(explore_state_t *state)
+{
+   if (!state)
+      return;
+
+   if (explore_state)
+      menu_explore_free();
+
+   explore_state = state;
+}
diff --git a/msg_hash.h b/msg_hash.h
index 89e1acea3a..34e4e45aa6 100644
--- a/msg_hash.h
+++ b/msg_hash.h
@@ -2052,6 +2052,7 @@ enum msg_hash_enums
    MENU_LABEL(RDB_ENTRY_DETAIL),
 
    /* Explore tab */
+   MENU_LABEL(EXPLORE_INITIALISING_LIST),
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_CATEGORY_RELEASE_YEAR,
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_CATEGORY_PLAYER_COUNT,
    MENU_ENUM_LABEL_VALUE_EXPLORE_CATEGORY_REGION,
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index 3f3b0eafa5..65eedd3f13 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -1183,6 +1183,10 @@ bool menu_driver_ctl(enum rarch_menu_ctl_state state, void *data)
          core_updater_list_free_cached();
 #endif
 #if defined(HAVE_MENU) && defined(HAVE_LIBRETRODB)
+         /* Before freeing the explore menu, we
+          * must wait for any explore menu initialisation
+          * tasks to complete */
+         menu_explore_wait_for_init_task();
          menu_explore_free();
 #endif
 
diff --git a/tasks/task_menu_explore.c b/tasks/task_menu_explore.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c8eedffa36
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tasks/task_menu_explore.c
@@ -0,0 +1,245 @@
+/*  RetroArch - A frontend for libretro.
+ *  Copyright (C) 2010-2021 - Hans-Kristian Arntzen
+ *  Copyright (C) 2011-2021 - Daniel De Matteis
+ *  Copyright (C) 2019-2021 - James Leaver
+ *
+ *  RetroArch is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms
+ *  of the GNU General Public License as published by the Free Software Found-
+ *  ation, either version 3 of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ *  RetroArch is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY;
+ *  without even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
+ *  PURPOSE.  See the GNU General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *  You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License along with RetroArch.
+ *  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
+#include <ctype.h>
+
+#include <string/stdstring.h>
+
+#include "tasks_internal.h"
+
+#include "../menu/menu_entries.h"
+#include "../menu/menu_driver.h"
+
+typedef struct menu_explore_init_handle
+{
+   explore_state_t *state;
+   char *directory_playlist;
+   char *directory_database;
+} menu_explore_init_handle_t;
+
+/*********************/
+/* Utility Functions */
+/*********************/
+
+static void free_menu_explore_init_handle(
+      menu_explore_init_handle_t *menu_explore)
+{
+   if (!menu_explore)
+      return;
+
+   if (menu_explore->directory_playlist)
+   {
+      free(menu_explore->directory_playlist);
+      menu_explore->directory_playlist = NULL;
+   }
+
+   if (menu_explore->directory_database)
+   {
+      free(menu_explore->directory_database);
+      menu_explore->directory_database = NULL;
+   }
+
+   if (menu_explore->state)
+   {
+      menu_explore_free_state(menu_explore->state);
+      free(menu_explore->state);
+      menu_explore->state = NULL;
+   }
+
+   free(menu_explore);
+   menu_explore = NULL;
+}
+
+static void cb_task_menu_explore_init(
+      retro_task_t *task, void *task_data,
+      void *user_data, const char *err)
+{
+   menu_explore_init_handle_t *menu_explore = NULL;
+   const char *menu_label                   = NULL;
+
+   if (!task)
+      return;
+
+   menu_explore = (menu_explore_init_handle_t*)task->state;
+
+   if (!menu_explore)
+      return;
+
+   /* Assign global menu explore state object */
+   menu_explore_set_state(menu_explore->state);
+   menu_explore->state = NULL;
+
+   /* If the explore menu is currently displayed,
+    * it must be refreshed */
+   menu_entries_get_last_stack(NULL, &menu_label, NULL, NULL, NULL);
+
+   if (string_is_empty(menu_label))
+      return;
+
+   if (string_is_equal(menu_label,
+            msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_DEFERRED_EXPLORE_LIST)) ||
+      string_is_equal(menu_label,
+            msg_hash_to_str(MENU_ENUM_LABEL_EXPLORE_TAB)))
+   {
+      bool refresh = false;
+      menu_entries_ctl(MENU_ENTRIES_CTL_SET_REFRESH, &refresh);
+      menu_driver_ctl(RARCH_MENU_CTL_SET_PREVENT_POPULATE, NULL);
+   }
+}
+
+static void task_menu_explore_init_free(retro_task_t *task)
+{
+   menu_explore_init_handle_t *menu_explore = NULL;
+
+   if (!task)
+      return;
+
+   menu_explore = (menu_explore_init_handle_t*)task->state;
+
+   free_menu_explore_init_handle(menu_explore);
+}
+
+/*******************************/
+/* Explore Menu Initialisation */
+/*******************************/
+
+static void task_menu_explore_init_handler(retro_task_t *task)
+{
+   menu_explore_init_handle_t *menu_explore = NULL;
+
+   if (!task)
+      goto task_finished;
+
+   menu_explore = (menu_explore_init_handle_t*)task->state;
+
+   if (!menu_explore)
+      goto task_finished;
+
+   if (task_get_cancelled(task))
+      goto task_finished;
+
+   /* TODO/FIXME: It could be beneficial to
+    * initialise the explore menu iteratively,
+    * but this would require a non-trivial rewrite
+    * of the menu_explore code. For now, we will
+    * do it in a single shot (the most important
+    * consideration here is to place this
+    * initialisation on a background thread) */
+   menu_explore->state = menu_explore_build_list(
+         menu_explore->directory_playlist,
+         menu_explore->directory_database);
+
+   task_set_progress(task, 100);
+
+task_finished:
+
+   if (task)
+      task_set_finished(task, true);
+}
+
+static bool task_menu_explore_init_finder(
+      retro_task_t *task, void *user_data)
+{
+   if (!task)
+      return false;
+
+   if (task->handler == task_menu_explore_init_handler)
+      return true;
+
+   return false;
+}
+
+bool task_push_menu_explore_init(const char *directory_playlist,
+      const char *directory_database)
+{
+   task_finder_data_t find_data;
+   retro_task_t *task                       = NULL;
+   menu_explore_init_handle_t *menu_explore = NULL;
+
+   if (string_is_empty(directory_playlist) ||
+       string_is_empty(directory_database))
+      goto error;
+
+   task         = task_init();
+   menu_explore = (menu_explore_init_handle_t*)calloc(1,
+         sizeof(menu_explore_init_handle_t));
+
+   if (!task || !menu_explore)
+      goto error;
+
+   /* Explore menu is singular - cannot perform
+    * multiple initialisations simultaneously */
+   find_data.func     = task_menu_explore_init_finder;
+   find_data.userdata = NULL;
+
+   if (task_queue_find(&find_data))
+      goto error;
+
+   /* Configure handle */
+   menu_explore->state              = NULL;
+   menu_explore->directory_playlist = strdup(directory_playlist);
+   menu_explore->directory_database = strdup(directory_database);
+
+   /* Configure task
+    * > Note: This is silent task, with no title
+    *   and no user notification messages */
+   task->handler  = task_menu_explore_init_handler;
+   task->state    = menu_explore;
+   task->mute     = true;
+   task->title    = NULL;
+   task->progress = 0;
+   task->callback = cb_task_menu_explore_init;
+   task->cleanup  = task_menu_explore_init_free;
+
+   task_queue_push(task);
+
+   return true;
+
+error:
+
+   if (task)
+   {
+      free(task);
+      task = NULL;
+   }
+
+   free_menu_explore_init_handle(menu_explore);
+   menu_explore = NULL;
+
+   return false;
+}
+
+bool menu_explore_init_in_progress(void *data)
+{
+   task_finder_data_t find_data;
+
+   find_data.func     = task_menu_explore_init_finder;
+   find_data.userdata = NULL;
+
+   if (task_queue_find(&find_data))
+      return true;
+
+   return false;
+}
+
+void menu_explore_wait_for_init_task(void)
+{
+   task_queue_wait(menu_explore_init_in_progress, NULL);
+}
diff --git a/tasks/tasks_internal.h b/tasks/tasks_internal.h
index b4b1960940..983f03ad28 100644
--- a/tasks/tasks_internal.h
+++ b/tasks/tasks_internal.h
@@ -267,6 +267,14 @@ void set_save_state_in_background(bool state);
 void task_push_cdrom_dump(const char *drive);
 #endif
 
+/* Menu explore tasks */
+#if defined(HAVE_MENU) && defined(HAVE_LIBRETRODB)
+bool task_push_menu_explore_init(const char *directory_playlist,
+      const char *directory_database);
+bool menu_explore_init_in_progress(void *data);
+void menu_explore_wait_for_init_task(void);
+#endif
+
 RETRO_END_DECLS
 
 #endif