diff --git a/src/core/hle/D3D8/XbPixelShader.cpp b/src/core/hle/D3D8/XbPixelShader.cpp
index 87c1aeeb7..aaa414651 100644
--- a/src/core/hle/D3D8/XbPixelShader.cpp
+++ b/src/core/hle/D3D8/XbPixelShader.cpp
@@ -768,7 +768,12 @@ IDirect3DPixelShader9* GetFixedFunctionShader()
 
 	bool previousStageDisabled = false;
 	for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
-		// Determine the COLOROP
+		// Determine COLOROP
+		// This controls both the texture operation for the colour of the stage
+		// and when to stop processing
+		// Under certain circumstances we force it to be DISABLE
+		auto colorOp = XboxTextureStates.Get(i, xbox::X_D3DTSS_COLOROP);
+
 		// Usually we execute stages up to the first disabled stage
 		// However, if point sprites are enabled, we just execute stage 3
 		bool forceDisable =
@@ -784,12 +789,12 @@ IDirect3DPixelShader9* GetFixedFunctionShader()
 		// Test case: Crash Nitro Kart (engine speed UI)
 		if (!g_pXbox_SetTexture[i]
 			&& XboxTextureStates.Get(i, xbox::X_D3DTSS_COLORARG1) == X_D3DTA_TEXTURE
-			&& XboxTextureStates.Get(i, xbox::X_D3DTSS_COLOROP) != xbox::X_D3DTOP_SELECTARG2)
+			&& colorOp != xbox::X_D3DTOP_SELECTARG2)
 		{
 			forceDisable = true;
 		}
 
-		auto colorOp = XboxTextureStates.Get(i, xbox::X_D3DTSS_COLOROP);
+		// Set the final COLOROP value
 		states[i].COLOROP = forceDisable ? X_D3DTOP_DISABLE : colorOp;
 
 		// If the stage is disabled we don't want its configuration to affect the key