diff --git a/gfx/drivers/sdl_dingux_gfx.c b/gfx/drivers/sdl_dingux_gfx.c
index 865c16f478..faf1511124 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/sdl_dingux_gfx.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/sdl_dingux_gfx.c
@@ -761,7 +761,13 @@ static bool sdl_dingux_gfx_frame(void *data, const void *frame,
 {
    sdl_dingux_video_t* vid = (sdl_dingux_video_t*)data;
 
-   if (unlikely(!vid))
+   /* Return early if:
+    * - Input sdl_dingux_video_t struct is NULL
+    *   (cannot realistically happen)
+    * - Menu is inactive and input 'content' frame
+    *   data is NULL (may happen when e.g. a running
+    *   core skips a frame) */
+   if (unlikely(!vid || (!frame && !vid->menu_active)))
       return true;
 
    /* If fast forward is currently active, we may
@@ -805,16 +811,13 @@ static bool sdl_dingux_gfx_frame(void *data, const void *frame,
 
       if (likely(vid->mode_valid))
       {
-         if (likely(frame))
-         {
-            /* Blit frame to SDL surface */
-            if (vid->rgb32)
-               sdl_dingux_blit_frame32(vid, (uint32_t*)frame,
-                     width, height, pitch);
-            else
-               sdl_dingux_blit_frame16(vid, (uint16_t*)frame,
-                     width, height, pitch);
-         }
+         /* Blit frame to SDL surface */
+         if (vid->rgb32)
+            sdl_dingux_blit_frame32(vid, (uint32_t*)frame,
+                  width, height, pitch);
+         else
+            sdl_dingux_blit_frame16(vid, (uint16_t*)frame,
+                  width, height, pitch);
       }
       /* If current display mode is invalid,
        * just display an error message */