diff --git a/core/rend/boxart/boxart.cpp b/core/rend/boxart/boxart.cpp
index 6462d87994..7ec447d7d5 100644
--- a/core/rend/boxart/boxart.cpp
+++ b/core/rend/boxart/boxart.cpp
@@ -130,12 +130,13 @@ void Boxart::fetchBoxart()
 				}
 			}
 		}
+		saveDatabase(true);
 	});
 }
 
-void Boxart::saveDatabase()
+void Boxart::saveDatabase(bool internal)
 {
-	if (fetching.valid())
+	if (!internal && fetching.valid())
 		fetching.get();
 	if (!databaseDirty)
 		return;
diff --git a/core/rend/boxart/boxart.h b/core/rend/boxart/boxart.h
index 77f964cc41..a19680b237 100644
--- a/core/rend/boxart/boxart.h
+++ b/core/rend/boxart/boxart.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class Boxart
 {
 public:
 	GameBoxart getBoxart(const GameMedia& media);
-	void saveDatabase();
+	void saveDatabase(bool internal = false);
 
 private:
 	void loadDatabase();