diff --git a/retroarch.c b/retroarch.c
index 067b1cf1b6..27e1919b17 100644
--- a/retroarch.c
+++ b/retroarch.c
@@ -37912,7 +37912,11 @@ int runloop_iterate(void)
    bool vrr_runloop_enable                      = settings->bools.vrr_runloop_enable;
    unsigned max_users                           = p_rarch->input_driver_max_users;
    retro_time_t current_time                    = cpu_features_get_time_usec();
+#ifdef HAVE_MENU
    bool core_paused                             = p_rarch->runloop_paused || (settings->bools.menu_pause_libretro && p_rarch->menu_driver_alive);
+#else
+   bool core_paused                             = p_rarch->runloop_paused;
+#endif
 
 #ifdef HAVE_DISCORD
    discord_state_t *discord_st                  = &p_rarch->discord_st;