diff --git a/frontend/frontend.c b/frontend/frontend.c
index d60a7fe69e..934cfe528b 100644
--- a/frontend/frontend.c
+++ b/frontend/frontend.c
@@ -166,6 +166,12 @@ static void rarch_get_environment_console(void)
 #define attempt_load_game_fails (1ULL << MODE_EXIT)
 #endif
 
+#if defined(RARCH_CONSOLE)
+#define load_dummy_on_core_shutdown false
+#else
+#define load_dummy_on_core_shutdown true
+#endif
+
 #define frontend_init_enable true
 #define menu_init_enable true
 #define initial_lifecycle_state_preinit false
@@ -176,7 +182,15 @@ int main_entry_iterate(signature(), args_type() args)
    static retro_keyboard_event_t key_event;
 
    if (g_extern.system.shutdown)
-      return 1;
+   {
+#ifdef HAVE_MENU
+      // Load dummy core instead of exiting RetroArch completely.
+      if (load_dummy_on_core_shutdown)
+         load_menu_game_prepare_dummy();
+      else
+#endif
+         return 1;
+   }
    else if (g_extern.lifecycle_state & (1ULL << MODE_LOAD_GAME))
    {
       load_menu_game_prepare();
diff --git a/frontend/menu/menu_common.c b/frontend/menu/menu_common.c
index 016c3c2dbe..286edf1e99 100644
--- a/frontend/menu/menu_common.c
+++ b/frontend/menu/menu_common.c
@@ -347,6 +347,17 @@ static void menu_update_libretro_info(void)
       rgui->core_info = core_info_list_new(rgui->libretro_dir);
 }
 
+void load_menu_game_prepare_dummy(void)
+{
+   // Starts dummy core.
+   *g_extern.fullpath = '\0';
+   rgui->load_no_rom = false;
+
+   g_extern.lifecycle_state |= (1ULL << MODE_LOAD_GAME);
+   g_extern.lifecycle_state &= ~(1ULL << MODE_GAME);
+   g_extern.system.shutdown = false;
+}
+
 bool load_menu_game(void)
 {
    if (g_extern.main_is_init)
diff --git a/frontend/menu/menu_common.h b/frontend/menu/menu_common.h
index fd769cd589..a602e682a8 100644
--- a/frontend/menu/menu_common.h
+++ b/frontend/menu/menu_common.h
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@ void menu_parse_and_resolve(void *data, unsigned menu_type);
 void menu_init_core_info(void *data);
 
 void load_menu_game_prepare(void);
+void load_menu_game_prepare_dummy(void);
 bool load_menu_game(void);
 void load_menu_game_history(unsigned game_index);
 extern void load_menu_game_new_core(void);