diff --git a/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/DX12/GSDevice12.cpp b/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/DX12/GSDevice12.cpp
index 696516f4c2..3aadefa726 100644
--- a/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/DX12/GSDevice12.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/DX12/GSDevice12.cpp
@@ -703,11 +703,17 @@ bool GSDevice12::Create(GSVSyncMode vsync_mode, bool allow_present_throttle)
 	if (!AcquireWindow(true) || (m_window_info.type != WindowInfo::Type::Surfaceless && !CreateSwapChain()))
 		return false;
 
+	if (!CreateNullTexture())
+	{
+		Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to create dummy texture");
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	{
 		std::optional<std::string> shader = ReadShaderSource("shaders/dx11/tfx.fx");
 		if (!shader.has_value())
 		{
-			Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to read shaders/dx11/tfx.fxf.");
+			Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to read shaders/dx11/tfx.fx.");
 			return false;
 		}
 
@@ -717,12 +723,6 @@ bool GSDevice12::Create(GSVSyncMode vsync_mode, bool allow_present_throttle)
 	if (!m_shader_cache.Open(m_feature_level, GSConfig.UseDebugDevice))
 		Console.Warning("D3D12: Shader cache failed to open.");
 
-	if (!CreateNullTexture())
-	{
-		Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to create dummy texture");
-		return false;
-	}
-
 	if (!CreateRootSignatures())
 	{
 		Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to create pipeline layouts");
diff --git a/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/Vulkan/GSDeviceVK.cpp b/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/Vulkan/GSDeviceVK.cpp
index 661b47a9b9..7da296684d 100644
--- a/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/Vulkan/GSDeviceVK.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2/GS/Renderers/Vulkan/GSDeviceVK.cpp
@@ -2059,6 +2059,12 @@ bool GSDeviceVK::Create(GSVSyncMode vsync_mode, bool allow_present_throttle)
 		return false;
 	}
 
+	if (!CreateNullTexture())
+	{
+		Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to create dummy texture");
+		return false;
+	}
+
 	{
 		std::optional<std::string> shader = ReadShaderSource("shaders/vulkan/tfx.glsl");
 		if (!shader.has_value())
@@ -2070,12 +2076,6 @@ bool GSDeviceVK::Create(GSVSyncMode vsync_mode, bool allow_present_throttle)
 		m_tfx_source = std::move(*shader);
 	}
 
-	if (!CreateNullTexture())
-	{
-		Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to create dummy texture");
-		return false;
-	}
-
 	if (!CreatePipelineLayouts())
 	{
 		Host::ReportErrorAsync("GS", "Failed to create pipeline layouts");
@@ -5291,8 +5291,12 @@ void GSDeviceVK::SetPipeline(VkPipeline pipeline)
 
 void GSDeviceVK::SetInitialState(VkCommandBuffer cmdbuf)
 {
-	const VkDeviceSize buffer_offset = 0;
-	vkCmdBindVertexBuffers(cmdbuf, 0, 1, m_vertex_stream_buffer.GetBufferPtr(), &buffer_offset);
+	VkBuffer buffer = *m_vertex_stream_buffer.GetBufferPtr();
+	if (buffer != VK_NULL_HANDLE)
+	{
+		constexpr VkDeviceSize buffer_offset = 0;
+		vkCmdBindVertexBuffers(cmdbuf, 0, 1, &buffer, &buffer_offset);
+	}
 }
 
 __ri void GSDeviceVK::ApplyBaseState(u32 flags, VkCommandBuffer cmdbuf)