diff --git a/gfx/drivers/gl.c b/gfx/drivers/gl.c
index 994851dae0..7c285591c5 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/gl.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/gl.c
@@ -1806,7 +1806,7 @@ static bool gl_frame(void *data, const void *frame,
    }
 #endif
 
-   if (msg)
+   if (font_driver_has_render_msg() && msg)
       font_driver_render_msg(NULL, msg, NULL);
 
 #ifdef HAVE_OVERLAY