diff --git a/src/device.rs b/src/device.rs
index 34ba6e5..4290f56 100644
--- a/src/device.rs
+++ b/src/device.rs
@@ -322,6 +322,7 @@ impl Device {
             pif: pif::Pif {
                 rom: [0; 1984],
                 ram: [0; 64],
+                input_gathered: false,
                 channels: [pif::PifChannel {
                     tx: None,
                     tx_buf: None,
diff --git a/src/device/pif.rs b/src/device/pif.rs
index 2881b57..b24711c 100644
--- a/src/device/pif.rs
+++ b/src/device/pif.rs
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ pub struct Pif {
     #[serde(with = "serde_big_array::BigArray")]
     pub ram: [u8; 64],
     pub channels: [PifChannel; 5],
+    pub input_gathered: bool,
 }
 
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, serde::Serialize, serde::Deserialize)]
@@ -95,6 +96,9 @@ fn process_channel(device: &mut device::Device, channel: usize) -> usize {
 }
 
 pub fn update_pif_ram(device: &mut device::Device) -> u64 {
+    unsafe { sdl3_sys::events::SDL_PumpEvents() };
+    device.pif.input_gathered = true;
+
     let mut active_channels = 0;
     for k in 0..PIF_CHANNELS_COUNT {
         active_channels += process_channel(device, k)
diff --git a/src/device/vi.rs b/src/device/vi.rs
index 392b600..8110118 100644
--- a/src/device/vi.rs
+++ b/src/device/vi.rs
@@ -159,6 +159,10 @@ pub fn vertical_interrupt_event(device: &mut device::Device) {
 
     if device.netplay.is_none() && paused {
         ui::video::pause_loop();
+    } else if !device.pif.input_gathered {
+        unsafe { sdl3_sys::events::SDL_PumpEvents() }; // in case the game isn't prompting for input
+    } else {
+        device.pif.input_gathered = false;
     }
 
     /*
diff --git a/src/ui/input.rs b/src/ui/input.rs
index 53c8175..957a687 100644
--- a/src/ui/input.rs
+++ b/src/ui/input.rs
@@ -385,8 +385,6 @@ pub fn get_controller_paths(game_ui: &ui::Ui) -> Vec<Option<String>> {
 }
 
 pub fn get(ui: &ui::Ui, channel: usize) -> InputData {
-    unsafe { sdl3_sys::events::SDL_PumpEvents() };
-
     let profile_name = ui.config.input.input_profile_binding[channel].clone();
     let profile = ui.config.input.input_profiles.get(&profile_name).unwrap();
     let mut keys = 0;