diff --git a/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c b/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c
index 269a518332..c1a40ff09a 100644
--- a/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c
+++ b/gfx/drivers/d3d9.c
@@ -2092,7 +2092,7 @@ static bool d3d9_has_windowed(void *data)
 static bool d3d9_menu_widgets_enabled(void *data)
 {
    (void)data;
-   return true;
+   return false; /* currently disabled due to memory issues */
 }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/menu/menu_animation.c b/menu/menu_animation.c
index 755624d543..31ab46a878 100644
--- a/menu/menu_animation.c
+++ b/menu/menu_animation.c
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ struct menu_animation
 {
    tween_array_t list;
    tween_array_t pending;
+   bool initialized;
    bool pending_deletes;
    bool in_update;
 };
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ typedef struct menu_animation menu_animation_t;
 
 static const char ticker_spacer_default[] = TICKER_SPACER_DEFAULT;
 
-static menu_animation_t anim;
+static menu_animation_t anim    = {0};
 static retro_time_t cur_time    = 0;
 static retro_time_t old_time    = 0;
 static uint64_t ticker_idx      = 0; /* updated every TICKER_SPEED ms */
@@ -385,18 +386,6 @@ static void menu_animation_ticker_loop(uint64_t idx,
    *width3  = width;
 }
 
-void menu_animation_init(void)
-{
-   da_init(anim.list);
-   da_init(anim.pending);
-}
-
-void menu_animation_free(void)
-{
-   da_free(anim.list);
-   da_free(anim.pending);
-}
-
 static void menu_delayed_animation_cb(void *userdata)
 {
    menu_delayed_animation_t *delayed_animation = (menu_delayed_animation_t*) userdata;
@@ -552,6 +541,13 @@ bool menu_animation_push(menu_animation_ctx_entry_t *entry)
    if (!t.easing || t.duration == 0 || t.initial_value == t.target_value)
       return false;
 
+   if (!anim.initialized)
+   {
+      da_init(anim.list);
+      da_init(anim.pending);
+      anim.initialized = true;
+   }
+
    if (anim.in_update)
       da_push(anim.pending, t);
    else
@@ -854,6 +850,7 @@ bool menu_animation_ctl(enum menu_animation_ctl_state state, void *data)
             }
 
             da_free(anim.list);
+            da_free(anim.pending);
 
             memset(&anim, 0, sizeof(menu_animation_t));
          }
diff --git a/menu/menu_animation.h b/menu/menu_animation.h
index 3cf0e1f972..a41e122346 100644
--- a/menu/menu_animation.h
+++ b/menu/menu_animation.h
@@ -145,10 +145,6 @@ void menu_timer_start(menu_timer_t *timer, menu_timer_ctx_entry_t *timer_entry);
 
 void menu_timer_kill(menu_timer_t *timer);
 
-void menu_animation_init(void);
-
-void menu_animation_free(void);
-
 bool menu_animation_update(void);
 
 bool menu_animation_ticker(menu_animation_ctx_ticker_t *ticker);
diff --git a/menu/menu_driver.c b/menu/menu_driver.c
index 123c4c74bb..4e6b4914e6 100644
--- a/menu/menu_driver.c
+++ b/menu/menu_driver.c
@@ -2224,17 +2224,11 @@ static bool menu_driver_context_reset(bool video_is_threaded)
 
 bool menu_driver_init(bool video_is_threaded)
 {
-   menu_animation_init();
    if (menu_driver_init_internal(video_is_threaded))
       return menu_driver_context_reset(video_is_threaded);
    return false;
 }
 
-void menu_driver_free(void)
-{
-   menu_animation_free();
-}
-
 void menu_driver_navigation_set(bool scroll)
 {
    if (menu_driver_ctx->navigation_set)
diff --git a/menu/menu_driver.h b/menu/menu_driver.h
index 16f44cf80c..e60322e123 100644
--- a/menu/menu_driver.h
+++ b/menu/menu_driver.h
@@ -525,8 +525,6 @@ bool menu_driver_push_list(menu_ctx_displaylist_t *disp_list);
 
 bool menu_driver_init(bool video_is_threaded);
 
-void menu_driver_free(void);
-
 void menu_driver_set_thumbnail_system(char *s, size_t len);
 
 void menu_driver_get_thumbnail_system(char *s, size_t len);
diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index e06552c045..0bc6d48c8c 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -12340,7 +12340,6 @@ void driver_uninit(int flags)
       menu_widgets_free();
 #endif
       menu_driver_ctl(RARCH_MENU_CTL_DEINIT, NULL);
-      menu_driver_free();
    }
 #endif