diff --git a/core/rend/vulkan/vulkan_driver.h b/core/rend/vulkan/vulkan_driver.h
index ea224139e7..e483592894 100644
--- a/core/rend/vulkan/vulkan_driver.h
+++ b/core/rend/vulkan/vulkan_driver.h
@@ -88,6 +88,9 @@ class VulkanDriver final : public ImGuiDriver
 
 	ImTextureID updateTexture(const std::string& name, const u8 *data, int width, int height, bool nearestSampling) override
 	{
+		if (justStarted)
+			// give it some more time
+			return {};
 		VkTexture vkTex(std::make_unique<Texture>());
 		vkTex.texture->tex_type = TextureType::_8888;
 		vkTex.texture->SetCommandBuffer(getCommandBuffer());