diff --git a/backends/platform/android/org/inodes/gus/scummvm/ScummVM.java b/backends/platform/android/org/inodes/gus/scummvm/ScummVM.java
index fe225af48bc..8bf40ac5530 100644
--- a/backends/platform/android/org/inodes/gus/scummvm/ScummVM.java
+++ b/backends/platform/android/org/inodes/gus/scummvm/ScummVM.java
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ public abstract class ScummVM implements SurfaceHolder.Callback, Runnable {
 	// SurfaceHolder callback
 	final public void surfaceChanged(SurfaceHolder holder, int format,
 										int width, int height) {
+		// the orientation may reset on standby mode and the theme manager
+		// could assert when using a portrait resolution. so lets not do that.
+		if (height > width) {
+			Log.d(LOG_TAG, String.format("Ignoring surfaceChanged: %dx%d (%d)",
+											width, height, format));
+			return;
+		}
+
 		Log.d(LOG_TAG, String.format("surfaceChanged: %dx%d (%d)",
 										width, height, format));