diff --git a/src/core/fullscreen_ui.cpp b/src/core/fullscreen_ui.cpp
index 855242723..88b278f72 100644
--- a/src/core/fullscreen_ui.cpp
+++ b/src/core/fullscreen_ui.cpp
@@ -734,7 +734,8 @@ bool FullscreenUI::Initialize()
   if (s_state.initialized)
     return true;
 
-  if (s_state.tried_to_initialize)
+  // some achievement callbacks fire early while e.g. there is a load state popup blocking system init
+  if (s_state.tried_to_initialize || !ImGuiManager::IsInitialized())
     return false;
 
   ImGuiFullscreen::SetAnimations(Host::GetBaseBoolSettingValue("Main", "FullscreenUIAnimations", true));
diff --git a/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp b/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp
index 75258668e..2bbf3d1cc 100644
--- a/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp
+++ b/src/util/imgui_manager.cpp
@@ -311,6 +311,11 @@ ImGuiContext* ImGuiManager::GetMainContext()
   return s_state.imgui_context;
 }
 
+bool ImGuiManager::IsInitialized()
+{
+  return (s_state.imgui_context != nullptr);
+}
+
 void ImGuiManager::SetScreenMargin(float margin)
 {
   s_state.screen_margin = std::max(margin, 0.0f);
diff --git a/src/util/imgui_manager.h b/src/util/imgui_manager.h
index d0bbff764..04463f37f 100644
--- a/src/util/imgui_manager.h
+++ b/src/util/imgui_manager.h
@@ -86,6 +86,9 @@ void Shutdown();
 /// Returns main ImGui context.
 ImGuiContext* GetMainContext();
 
+/// Returns true if there is currently a context created.
+bool IsInitialized();
+
 /// Sets the size of the screen margins, or "safe zone".
 void SetScreenMargin(float margin);