diff --git a/core/hw/maple/maple_devs.cpp b/core/hw/maple/maple_devs.cpp
index d0cf5bb92..020d57d8c 100755
--- a/core/hw/maple/maple_devs.cpp
+++ b/core/hw/maple/maple_devs.cpp
@@ -2153,9 +2153,6 @@ struct DreamLinkVmu : public maple_sega_vmu
 
 	void OnSetup() override
 	{
-		// Update useRealVmuMemory in case config changed
-		useRealVmuMemory = config::UsePhysicalVmuMemory;
-
 		// All data must be re-read
 		memset(mirroredBlocks, 0, sizeof(mirroredBlocks));
 
@@ -2500,7 +2497,7 @@ struct DreamLinkPurupuru : public maple_sega_purupuru
 static std::list<std::shared_ptr<DreamLinkVmu>> dreamLinkVmus[2];
 static std::list<std::shared_ptr<DreamLinkPurupuru>> dreamLinkPurupurus;
 
-void createDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink, bool gameStart)
+void createDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink, bool gameStart, bool stateLoaded)
 {
 	const int bus = dreamlink->getBus();
 
@@ -2522,13 +2519,28 @@ void createDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink, bool gameStart
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (gameStart || !vmuFound)
+			if (gameStart || stateLoaded || !vmuFound)
 			{
 				if (!vmu)
 				{
 					vmu = std::make_shared<DreamLinkVmu>(dreamlink);
 				}
 
+				if (gameStart)
+				{
+					// Update useRealVmuMemory in case config changed
+					vmu->useRealVmuMemory = config::UsePhysicalVmuMemory;
+				}
+				else if (stateLoaded)
+				{
+					if (vmu->useRealVmuMemory)
+					{
+						// Disconnect from real VMU memory when a state is loaded
+						vmu->useRealVmuMemory = false;
+						os_notify("WARNING: Disconnected from physical VMU memory due to load state", 6000);
+					}
+				}
+
 				vmu->Setup(bus, i);
 
 				if (!vmuFound && dev && dev->get_device_type() == MDT_SegaVMU && !vmu->useRealVmuMemory) {
@@ -2558,12 +2570,13 @@ void createDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink, bool gameStart
 				}
 			}
 
-			if (gameStart || !rumbleFound)
+			if (gameStart || stateLoaded || !rumbleFound)
 			{
 				if (!rumble)
 				{
 					rumble = std::make_shared<DreamLinkPurupuru>(dreamlink);
 				}
+
 				rumble->Setup(bus, i);
 
 				if (!rumbleFound) dreamLinkPurupurus.push_back(rumble);
diff --git a/core/sdl/dreamlink.cpp b/core/sdl/dreamlink.cpp
index 2c1974eb7..3f62d474f 100644
--- a/core/sdl/dreamlink.cpp
+++ b/core/sdl/dreamlink.cpp
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
 #include <setupapi.h>
 #endif
 
-void createDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink, bool gameStart);
+void createDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink, bool gameStart, bool stateLoaded);
 void tearDownDreamLinkDevices(std::shared_ptr<DreamLink> dreamlink);
 
 bool DreamLinkGamepad::isDreamcastController(int deviceIndex)
@@ -146,21 +146,22 @@ void DreamLinkGamepad::registered()
 		dreamlink->connect();
 
 		// Create DreamLink Maple Devices here just in case game is already running
-		createDreamLinkDevices(dreamlink, false);
+		createDreamLinkDevices(dreamlink, false, false);
 	}
 }
 
 void DreamLinkGamepad::handleEvent(Event event, void *arg)
 {
 	DreamLinkGamepad *gamepad = static_cast<DreamLinkGamepad*>(arg);
-	if (gamepad->dreamlink != nullptr && event != Event::Terminate) {
-		createDreamLinkDevices(gamepad->dreamlink, event == Event::Start);
+	if (gamepad->dreamlink != nullptr)
+	{
+		if (event != Event::Terminate) {
+			createDreamLinkDevices(gamepad->dreamlink, event == Event::Start, event == Event::LoadState);
+		}
+		else {
+			gamepad->dreamlink->gameTermination();
+		}
 	}
-
-    if (gamepad->dreamlink != nullptr && event == Event::Terminate)
-    {
-		gamepad->dreamlink->gameTermination();
-    }
 }
 
 void DreamLinkGamepad::resetMappingToDefault(bool arcade, bool gamepad) {
diff --git a/core/ui/settings_controls.cpp b/core/ui/settings_controls.cpp
index b0a6576ed..e8ddb9c78 100644
--- a/core/ui/settings_controls.cpp
+++ b/core/ui/settings_controls.cpp
@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@
 #include "vgamepad.h"
 #include "oslib/storage.h"
 
+#if defined(USE_SDL)
+#include "sdl/dreamlink.h" // For USE_DREAMCASTCONTROLLER
+#endif
+
 static float calcComboWidth(const char *biggestLabel) {
 	return ImGui::CalcTextSize(biggestLabel).x + ImGui::GetStyle().FramePadding.x * 2.0f + ImGui::GetFrameHeight();
 }
@@ -937,7 +941,8 @@ void gui_settings_controls(bool& maple_devices_changed)
 	{
 		DisabledScope scope(game_started);
 		OptionCheckbox("Use Physical VMU Memory", config::UsePhysicalVmuMemory,
-			"Enables direct read/write access to physical VMU memory via DreamPicoPort/DreamConn.");
+			"Enables direct read/write access to physical VMU memory via DreamPicoPort/DreamConn. "
+			"This is not compatible with load state events.");
 	}
 #endif