diff --git a/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.cpp b/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.cpp
index 800c1fdd..7ef17738 100644
--- a/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.cpp
+++ b/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.cpp
@@ -20,14 +20,23 @@
 
 #define SAME_AS_GAME _("Same location as current game")
 
-void snes9x_preferences_open(Snes9xWindow *window, Snes9xConfig *config)
-{
-    static Snes9xPreferences *preferences = nullptr;
+static Snes9xPreferences *preferences = nullptr;
 
+void snes9x_preferences_create(Snes9xConfig *config)
+{
+    Glib::Thread::create([config] {
+        Snes9xPreferences *new_preferences;
+        new_preferences = new Snes9xPreferences(config);
+        preferences = new_preferences;
+    }, true);
+}
+
+void snes9x_preferences_open(Snes9xWindow *window)
+{
     if (!preferences)
-    {
-        preferences = new Snes9xPreferences(config);
-    }
+        return;
+
+    auto &config = preferences->config;
 
     window->pause_from_focus_change ();
 
diff --git a/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.h b/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.h
index 8d6acd7f..fea41256 100644
--- a/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.h
+++ b/gtk/src/gtk_preferences.h
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
 #include "gtk_s9x.h"
 #include "gtk_builder_window.h"
 
-void snes9x_preferences_open(Snes9xWindow *window, Snes9xConfig *config);
+void snes9x_preferences_create(Snes9xConfig *config);
+void snes9x_preferences_open(Snes9xWindow *window);
 
 class Snes9xPreferences : public GtkBuilderWindow
 {
diff --git a/gtk/src/gtk_s9xwindow.cpp b/gtk/src/gtk_s9xwindow.cpp
index 4eb741c4..516a7e3d 100644
--- a/gtk/src/gtk_s9xwindow.cpp
+++ b/gtk/src/gtk_s9xwindow.cpp
@@ -78,6 +78,8 @@ Snes9xWindow::Snes9xWindow(Snes9xConfig *config)
     cairo_owned = false;
     mouse_grabbed = false;
 
+    snes9x_preferences_create(config);
+
     if (Gtk::IconTheme::get_default()->has_icon("snes9x"))
     {
         window->set_default_icon_name("snes9x");
@@ -86,7 +88,6 @@ Snes9xWindow::Snes9xWindow(Snes9xConfig *config)
     {
         auto loader = Gdk::PixbufLoader::create();
         loader->write((const guint8 *)app_icon, sizeof(app_icon));
-        loader->close();
         window->set_default_icon(loader->get_pixbuf());
     }
 
@@ -244,7 +245,7 @@ void Snes9xWindow::connect_signals()
     });
 
     get_object<Gtk::MenuItem>("preferences_item")->signal_activate().connect([&] {
-        snes9x_preferences_open(this, config);
+        snes9x_preferences_open(this);
     });
 
     get_object<Gtk::MenuItem>("open_netplay_item")->signal_activate().connect([&] {