diff --git a/menu/menu_iterate.c b/menu/menu_iterate.c
index 05f08c974c..f75b93507d 100644
--- a/menu/menu_iterate.c
+++ b/menu/menu_iterate.c
@@ -562,10 +562,13 @@ int menu_iterate_render(void)
    if (menu->state.do_messagebox && menu->state.msg[0] != '\0')
    {
       const ui_companion_driver_t *ui = ui_companion_get_ptr();
-      if (driver->render_messagebox && menu->state.msg[0] != '\0')
+      if (driver->render_messagebox)
          driver->render_messagebox(menu->state.msg);
-      if (ui->render_messagebox && menu->state.msg[0] != '\0')
-         ui->render_messagebox(menu->state.msg);
+      if (ui_companion_is_on_foreground())
+      {
+         if (ui->render_messagebox)
+            ui->render_messagebox(menu->state.msg);
+      }
    }
       
    if (menu->state.do_render)