diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 8d9ddeac9..fc3506a56 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -2081,9 +2081,9 @@ if(${CMAKE_GENERATOR} MATCHES "^Xcode.*|^Visual Studio.*")
 	source_group(TREE ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR} FILES ${SRC_FILES})
 endif()
 
-option(ENABLE_SH4_IR "Enable cached IR SH4 interpreter (no JIT)" ON)
+option(ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR "Enable cached IR SH4 interpreter (no JIT)" ON)
 
-if(ENABLE_SH4_IR)
+if(ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR)
     target_sources(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE
         core/hw/sh4/ir/ir_defs.h
         core/hw/sh4/ir/ir_emitter.h
@@ -2097,7 +2097,7 @@ if(ENABLE_SH4_IR)
         core/hw/sh4/ir/ir_blockmanager_stubs.cpp)
     # Ensure dynamic recompiler code paths are fully disabled when using the IR interpreter
     # These macros are checked in core/build.h to set FEAT_SHREC/FEAT_AREC/DSP rec to DYNAREC_NONE
-    target_compile_definitions(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE ENABLE_SH4_IR TARGET_NO_REC NO_JIT)
+    target_compile_definitions(${PROJECT_NAME} PRIVATE ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR TARGET_NO_REC NO_JIT)
 endif()
 
 # --- Jitless Dynarec Backend ---
diff --git a/build.sh b/build.sh
index 60978589d..367f5981d 100755
--- a/build.sh
+++ b/build.sh
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ CMAKE_CMD="cmake -B ${BUILD_DIR} \
   -DCMAKE_CXX_FLAGS=\"${CXX_FLAGS}\" \
   -DIOS=${IOS} \
   -DCMAKE_SYSTEM_NAME=${SYSTEM_NAME} \
-  -DENABLE_SH4_IR=ON \
+  -DENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR=ON \
   -DNO_JIT=ON \
   -DCMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5"
 
diff --git a/core/build.h b/core/build.h
index eccc0a7c2..b35b61be8 100755
--- a/core/build.h
+++ b/core/build.h
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@
 #define USE_WINCE_HACK
 #endif
 
-#define ENABLE_SH4_IR 1
-
 #define DC_PLATFORM_DREAMCAST   0
 #define DC_PLATFORM_DEV_UNIT    1
 #define DC_PLATFORM_NAOMI       2
diff --git a/core/emulator.cpp b/core/emulator.cpp
index 5a3ffc574..905aa4151 100644
--- a/core/emulator.cpp
+++ b/core/emulator.cpp
@@ -487,10 +487,27 @@ void Emulator::init()
 	reios_init();
 
 	// the recompiler may start generating code at this point and needs a fully configured machine
-// Always use the new IR interpreter regardless of build flags.
-	sh4::ir::Get_Sh4Interpreter(&sh4_cpu);
-	sh4_cpu.Init();
-	INFO_LOG(INTERPRETER, "Using IR Interpreter (forced)");
+	#if FEAT_SHREC != DYNAREC_NONE
+	Get_Sh4Recompiler(&sh4_cpu);
+	sh4_cpu.Init();		// Also initialize the interpreter
+	if(config::DynarecEnabled)
+	{
+		INFO_LOG(DYNAREC, "Using Recompiler");
+	}
+	else
+#endif // FEAT_SHREC != DYNAREC_NONE
+	{
+#ifdef ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
+		INFO_LOG(INTERPRETER, "Using new Cached Interpreter");
+		sh4::ir::Get_Sh4Interpreter(&sh4_cpu);
+		sh4_cpu.Init();
+#else
+		Get_Sh4Interpreter(&sh4_cpu);
+		sh4_cpu.Init();
+		INFO_LOG(INTERPRETER, "Using Interpreter");
+#endif // ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
+	}
+
 	state = Init;
 }
 
@@ -921,16 +938,23 @@ void Emulator::start()
 	if (config::GGPOEnable && config::ThreadedRendering)
 		// Not supported with GGPO
 		config::EmulateFramebuffer.override(false);
-#if defined(ENABLE_SH4_JITLESS)
+#if FEAT_SHREC != DYNAREC_NONE
+	if (config::DynarecEnabled)
+	{
 		Get_Sh4Recompiler(&sh4_cpu);
-		INFO_LOG(DYNAREC, "Using JITLESS Dynarec Backend");
-#elif defined(ENABLE_SH4_IR)
+		INFO_LOG(DYNAREC, "Using Recompiler");
+	}
+	else
+#endif // FEAT_SHREC != DYNAREC_NONE
+	{
+#if defined(ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR)
 		sh4::ir::Get_Sh4Interpreter(&sh4_cpu);
-		INFO_LOG(DYNAREC, "Using NEW Interpreter");
+		INFO_LOG(DYNAREC, "Using NEW Cached Interpreter");
 #else
 		Get_Sh4Interpreter(&sh4_cpu);
 		INFO_LOG(DYNAREC, "Using LEGACY Interpreter");
-#endif
+#endif // ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
+	}
 	setupPtyPipe();
 
 	memwatch::protect();
diff --git a/core/hw/sh4/interpr/sh4_interpreter.cpp b/core/hw/sh4/interpr/sh4_interpreter.cpp
index f338bc5be..bad2a42e4 100644
--- a/core/hw/sh4/interpr/sh4_interpreter.cpp
+++ b/core/hw/sh4/interpr/sh4_interpreter.cpp
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ static void Sh4_int_Term()
 	INFO_LOG(INTERPRETER, "Sh4 Term");
 }
 
-#ifndef ENABLE_SH4_IR
+#ifndef ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
 void Get_Sh4Interpreter(sh4_if* cpu)
 {
     fprintf(stderr, "[LEGACY-INT] Get_Sh4Interpreter called — linking legacy interpreter!\n");
@@ -221,4 +221,4 @@ void Get_Sh4Interpreter(sh4_if* cpu)
 
 	cpu->ResetCache = sh4_int_resetcache;
 }
-#endif // ENABLE_SH4_IR
+#endif // ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
diff --git a/core/hw/sh4/sh4_if.h b/core/hw/sh4/sh4_if.h
index 330513607..fd4c2d938 100644
--- a/core/hw/sh4/sh4_if.h
+++ b/core/hw/sh4/sh4_if.h
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ static inline void sh4_sr_SetFull(u32 value)
 #define sh4rcb (*p_sh4rcb)
 #define Sh4cntx (sh4rcb.cntx)
 
-#ifdef ENABLE_SH4_IR
+#ifdef ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
 namespace sh4 { namespace ir { void Get_Sh4Interpreter(sh4_if* cpu); } }
 #endif
 
diff --git a/tests/src/Sh4InterpreterTest.cpp b/tests/src/Sh4InterpreterTest.cpp
index edab61c8a..fd8842717 100644
--- a/tests/src/Sh4InterpreterTest.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/Sh4InterpreterTest.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,11 @@ protected:
 		mem_map_default();
 		dc_reset(true);
 		ctx = &p_sh4rcb->cntx;
-		::sh4::ir::Get_Sh4Interpreter(&this->sh4);
+		#ifdef ENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR
+			::sh4::ir::Get_Sh4Interpreter(&this->sh4);
+		#else
+			::Get_Sh4Interpreter(&this->sh4);
+		#endif
 	}
 	void PrepareOp(u16 op, u16 op2 = 0, u16 op3 = 0) override
 	{
diff --git a/tests/test.sh b/tests/test.sh
index 3387521b2..29f0d8631 100755
--- a/tests/test.sh
+++ b/tests/test.sh
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ fi
       -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=${BUILD_TYPE} \
       -DCMAKE_POLICY_DEFAULT_CMP0091=NEW \
       -DCMAKE_POLICY_VERSION_MINIMUM=3.5 \
-      -DENABLE_SH4_IR=ON \
+      -DENABLE_SH4_CACHED_IR=ON \
       -DBUILD_TESTING=ON \
       -DENABLE_OPENMP=OFF \
       -DUSE_JIT=OFF \