diff --git a/src/platform/qt/Display.cpp b/src/platform/qt/Display.cpp
index 59d218d46..1e1089d8f 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/Display.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/qt/Display.cpp
@@ -50,3 +50,20 @@ Display::Display(QWidget* parent)
 	setSizePolicy(QSizePolicy::MinimumExpanding, QSizePolicy::MinimumExpanding);
 	setMinimumSize(VIDEO_HORIZONTAL_PIXELS, VIDEO_VERTICAL_PIXELS);
 }
+
+void Display::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent*) {
+	m_messagePainter.resize(size(), m_lockAspectRatio);
+}
+
+void Display::lockAspectRatio(bool lock) {
+	m_lockAspectRatio = lock;
+	m_messagePainter.resize(size(), m_lockAspectRatio);
+}
+
+void Display::filter(bool filter) {
+	m_filter = filter;
+}
+
+void Display::showMessage(const QString& message) {
+	m_messagePainter.showMessage(message);
+}
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/Display.h b/src/platform/qt/Display.h
index c69461f39..6ae6a35c2 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/Display.h
+++ b/src/platform/qt/Display.h
@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
 
 #include <QWidget>
 
+#include "MessagePainter.h"
+
 struct GBAThread;
 
 namespace QGBA {
@@ -28,20 +30,32 @@ public:
 	static Display* create(QWidget* parent = nullptr);
 	static void setDriver(Driver driver) { s_driver = driver; }
 
+	bool isAspectRatioLocked() const { return m_lockAspectRatio; }
+	bool isFiltered() const { return m_filter; }
+
 public slots:
 	virtual void startDrawing(GBAThread* context) = 0;
 	virtual void stopDrawing() = 0;
 	virtual void pauseDrawing() = 0;
 	virtual void unpauseDrawing() = 0;
 	virtual void forceDraw() = 0;
-	virtual void lockAspectRatio(bool lock) = 0;
-	virtual void filter(bool filter) = 0;
+	virtual void lockAspectRatio(bool lock);
+	virtual void filter(bool filter);
 	virtual void framePosted(const uint32_t*) = 0;
 
-	virtual void showMessage(const QString& message) = 0;
+	void showMessage(const QString& message);
+
+protected:
+	void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent*);
+
+	MessagePainter* messagePainter() { return &m_messagePainter; }
 
 private:
 	static Driver s_driver;
+
+	MessagePainter m_messagePainter;
+	bool m_lockAspectRatio;
+	bool m_filter;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.cpp b/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.cpp
index f861387c6..2308a7d9c 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.cpp
@@ -19,8 +19,6 @@ DisplayGL::DisplayGL(const QGLFormat& format, QWidget* parent)
 	, m_gl(new EmptyGLWidget(format, this))
 	, m_painter(new PainterGL(m_gl))
 	, m_drawThread(nullptr)
-	, m_lockAspectRatio(false)
-	, m_filter(false)
 	, m_context(nullptr)
 {
 }
@@ -34,6 +32,7 @@ void DisplayGL::startDrawing(GBAThread* thread) {
 		return;
 	}
 	m_painter->setContext(thread);
+	m_painter->setMessagePainter(messagePainter());
 	m_context = thread;
 	m_painter->resize(size());
 	m_gl->move(0, 0);
@@ -46,8 +45,8 @@ void DisplayGL::startDrawing(GBAThread* thread) {
 	m_drawThread->start();
 	GBASyncSetVideoSync(&m_context->sync, false);
 
-	lockAspectRatio(m_lockAspectRatio);
-	filter(m_filter);
+	lockAspectRatio(isAspectRatioLocked());
+	filter(isFiltered());
 	resizePainter();
 }
 
@@ -96,14 +95,14 @@ void DisplayGL::forceDraw() {
 }
 
 void DisplayGL::lockAspectRatio(bool lock) {
-	m_lockAspectRatio = lock;
+	Display::lockAspectRatio(lock);
 	if (m_drawThread) {
 		QMetaObject::invokeMethod(m_painter, "lockAspectRatio", Q_ARG(bool, lock));
 	}
 }
 
 void DisplayGL::filter(bool filter) {
-	m_filter = filter;
+	Display::filter(filter);
 	if (m_drawThread) {
 		QMetaObject::invokeMethod(m_painter, "filter", Q_ARG(bool, filter));
 	}
@@ -115,13 +114,8 @@ void DisplayGL::framePosted(const uint32_t* buffer) {
 	}
 }
 
-void DisplayGL::showMessage(const QString& message) {
-	if (m_drawThread) {
-		QMetaObject::invokeMethod(m_painter, "showMessage", Qt::BlockingQueuedConnection, Q_ARG(const QString&, message));
-	}
-}
-
-void DisplayGL::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent*) {
+void DisplayGL::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent* event) {
+	Display::resizeEvent(event);
 	resizePainter();
 }
 
@@ -152,6 +146,10 @@ void PainterGL::setContext(GBAThread* context) {
 	m_context = context;
 }
 
+void PainterGL::setMessagePainter(MessagePainter* messagePainter) {
+	m_messagePainter = messagePainter;
+}
+
 void PainterGL::setBacking(const uint32_t* backing) {
 	m_gl->makeCurrent();
 	m_backend.d.postFrame(&m_backend.d, backing);
@@ -164,7 +162,6 @@ void PainterGL::setBacking(const uint32_t* backing) {
 void PainterGL::resize(const QSize& size) {
 	m_size = size;
 	if (m_active) {
-		m_messagePainter->resize(size, m_backend.d.lockAspectRatio);
 		forceDraw();
 	}
 }
@@ -172,7 +169,6 @@ void PainterGL::resize(const QSize& size) {
 void PainterGL::lockAspectRatio(bool lock) {
 	m_backend.d.lockAspectRatio = lock;
 	if (m_active) {
-		m_messagePainter->resize(m_size, m_backend.d.lockAspectRatio);
 		forceDraw();
 	}
 }
@@ -185,8 +181,6 @@ void PainterGL::filter(bool filter) {
 }
 
 void PainterGL::start() {
-	m_messagePainter = new MessagePainter(this);
-	m_messagePainter->resize(m_size, m_backend.d.lockAspectRatio);
 	m_gl->makeCurrent();
 	m_backend.d.init(&m_backend.d, reinterpret_cast<WHandle>(m_gl->winId()));
 	m_gl->doneCurrent();
@@ -220,9 +214,6 @@ void PainterGL::stop() {
 	m_backend.d.deinit(&m_backend.d);
 	m_gl->doneCurrent();
 	m_gl->context()->moveToThread(m_gl->thread());
-	m_messagePainter->clearMessage();
-	delete m_messagePainter;
-	m_messagePainter = nullptr;
 	moveToThread(m_gl->thread());
 }
 
@@ -243,9 +234,7 @@ void PainterGL::performDraw() {
 	m_backend.d.resized(&m_backend.d, m_size.width() * r, m_size.height() * r);
 	m_backend.d.drawFrame(&m_backend.d);
 	m_painter.endNativePainting();
-	m_messagePainter->paint(&m_painter);
-}
-
-void PainterGL::showMessage(const QString& message) {
-	m_messagePainter->showMessage(message);
+	if (m_messagePainter) {
+		m_messagePainter->paint(&m_painter);
+	}
 }
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.h b/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.h
index 16c7a1d0c..c49bab16c 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.h
+++ b/src/platform/qt/DisplayGL.h
@@ -8,8 +8,6 @@
 
 #include "Display.h"
 
-#include "MessagePainter.h"
-
 #include <QGLWidget>
 #include <QThread>
 #include <QTimer>
@@ -49,8 +47,6 @@ public slots:
 	void filter(bool filter) override;
 	void framePosted(const uint32_t*) override;
 
-	void showMessage(const QString& message) override;
-
 protected:
 	virtual void paintEvent(QPaintEvent*) override {}
 	virtual void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent*) override;
@@ -62,8 +58,6 @@ private:
 	PainterGL* m_painter;
 	QThread* m_drawThread;
 	GBAThread* m_context;
-	bool m_lockAspectRatio;
-	bool m_filter;
 };
 
 class PainterGL : public QObject {
@@ -73,6 +67,7 @@ public:
 	PainterGL(QGLWidget* parent);
 
 	void setContext(GBAThread*);
+	void setMessagePainter(MessagePainter*);
 
 public slots:
 	void setBacking(const uint32_t*);
@@ -86,8 +81,6 @@ public slots:
 	void lockAspectRatio(bool lock);
 	void filter(bool filter);
 
-	void showMessage(const QString& message);
-
 private:
 	void performDraw();
 
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.cpp b/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.cpp
index 4ebcee38a..182ecd2bc 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.cpp
@@ -16,8 +16,6 @@ using namespace QGBA;
 DisplayQt::DisplayQt(QWidget* parent)
 	: Display(parent)
 	, m_backing(nullptr)
-	, m_lockAspectRatio(false)
-	, m_filter(false)
 {
 }
 
@@ -25,12 +23,12 @@ void DisplayQt::startDrawing(GBAThread*) {
 }
 
 void DisplayQt::lockAspectRatio(bool lock) {
-	m_lockAspectRatio = lock;
+	Display::lockAspectRatio(lock);
 	update();
 }
 
 void DisplayQt::filter(bool filter) {
-	m_filter = filter;
+	Display::filter(filter);
 	update();
 }
 
@@ -50,19 +48,15 @@ void DisplayQt::framePosted(const uint32_t* buffer) {
 #endif
 }
 
-void DisplayQt::showMessage(const QString& message) {
-	m_messagePainter.showMessage(message);
-}
-
 void DisplayQt::paintEvent(QPaintEvent*) {
 	QPainter painter(this);
 	painter.fillRect(QRect(QPoint(), size()), Qt::black);
-	if (m_filter) {
+	if (isFiltered()) {
 		painter.setRenderHint(QPainter::SmoothPixmapTransform);
 	}
 	QSize s = size();
 	QSize ds = s;
-	if (m_lockAspectRatio) {
+	if (isAspectRatioLocked()) {
 		if (s.width() * 2 > s.height() * 3) {
 			ds.setWidth(s.height() * 3 / 2);
 		} else if (s.width() * 2 < s.height() * 3) {
@@ -77,9 +71,5 @@ void DisplayQt::paintEvent(QPaintEvent*) {
 #else
 	painter.drawImage(full, m_backing.rgbSwapped(), QRect(0, 0, VIDEO_HORIZONTAL_PIXELS, VIDEO_VERTICAL_PIXELS));
 #endif
-	m_messagePainter.paint(&painter);
-}
-
-void DisplayQt::resizeEvent(QResizeEvent*) {
-	m_messagePainter.resize(size(), m_lockAspectRatio);
+	messagePainter()->paint(&painter);
 }
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.h b/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.h
index e10b13b08..f7fefb0ee 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.h
+++ b/src/platform/qt/DisplayQt.h
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 #define QGBA_DISPLAY_QT
 
 #include "Display.h"
-#include "MessagePainter.h"
 
 #include <QImage>
 #include <QTimer>
@@ -32,17 +31,11 @@ public slots:
 	void filter(bool filter) override;
 	void framePosted(const uint32_t*) override;
 
-	void showMessage(const QString& message) override;
-
 protected:
 	virtual void paintEvent(QPaintEvent*) override;
-	virtual void resizeEvent(QResizeEvent*) override;;
 
 private:
 	QImage m_backing;
-	bool m_lockAspectRatio;
-	bool m_filter;
-	MessagePainter m_messagePainter;
 };
 
 }
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.cpp b/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.cpp
index a06fd0f77..49d32691f 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.cpp
+++ b/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,9 @@ void MessagePainter::resize(const QSize& size, bool lockAspectRatio) {
 	m_world.reset();
 	m_world.translate((w - drawW) / 2, (h - drawH) / 2);
 	m_world.scale(qreal(drawW) / VIDEO_HORIZONTAL_PIXELS, qreal(drawH) / VIDEO_VERTICAL_PIXELS);
+	m_mutex.lock();
 	m_message.prepare(m_world, m_messageFont);
+	m_mutex.unlock();
 }
 
 void MessagePainter::paint(QPainter* painter) {
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@ void MessagePainter::paint(QPainter* painter) {
 	painter->setFont(m_messageFont);
 	painter->setPen(Qt::black);
 	painter->translate(1, VIDEO_VERTICAL_PIXELS - m_messageFont.pixelSize() - 1);
+	m_mutex.lock();
 	const static int ITERATIONS = 11;
 	for (int i = 0; i < ITERATIONS; ++i) {
 		painter->save();
@@ -60,11 +63,14 @@ void MessagePainter::paint(QPainter* painter) {
 	}
 	painter->setPen(Qt::white);
 	painter->drawStaticText(0, 0, m_message);
+	m_mutex.unlock();
 }
 
 void MessagePainter::showMessage(const QString& message) {
+	m_mutex.lock();
 	m_message.setText(message);
 	m_message.prepare(m_world, m_messageFont);
+	m_mutex.unlock();
 	m_messageTimer.stop();
 	m_messageTimer.start();
 }
diff --git a/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.h b/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.h
index d0be66bbd..a8977cb85 100644
--- a/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.h
+++ b/src/platform/qt/MessagePainter.h
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #ifndef QGBA_MESSAGE_PAINTER
 #define QGBA_MESSAGE_PAINTER
 
+#include <QMutex>
 #include <QObject>
 #include <QStaticText>
 #include <QTimer>
@@ -26,6 +27,7 @@ public slots:
 	void clearMessage();
 
 private:
+	QMutex m_mutex;
 	QStaticText m_message;
 	QTimer m_messageTimer;
 	QTransform m_world;