diff --git a/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.cpp b/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.cpp
index 352537246..db3d28e5f 100644
--- a/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.cpp
+++ b/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.cpp
@@ -620,6 +620,17 @@ bool alt_launcher_scheduler_sleep_enabled(void)
 	return s_pid || s_init_pending || s_respawn_timer || s_tty_deadline || s_native_crt_finish_timer || s_native_fb_mode_timer || s_hdmi_fb_reassert_timer || s_hdmi_edid_retry_timer;
 }
 
+bool alt_launcher_handle_video_fb_config(void)
+{
+	if (s_native_crt || (!s_pid && !s_init_pending && !s_respawn_timer)) return false;
+
+	// Own HDMI fb configuration from queued initialization through the live
+	// child. This prevents pre-spawn module writes from landing after the
+	// frontend's vmode, and publishes its geometry against later output changes.
+	video_fb_reassert();
+	return true;
+}
+
 bool alt_launcher_native_crt(void)
 {
 	return s_native_crt && s_pid != 0;
diff --git a/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.h b/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.h
index 1107e574b..96e4cdf0a 100644
--- a/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.h
+++ b/support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.h
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ bool alt_launcher_native_crt_persisted(void);
 // Flips the persisted native CRT state and respawns the launcher to apply it.
 void alt_launcher_toggle_native_crt(void);
 bool alt_launcher_scheduler_sleep_enabled(void);
+// Preserves HDMI launcher fb0 across queued startup and live mode changes.
+bool alt_launcher_handle_video_fb_config(void);
 
 void alt_launcher_cfg_apply(void);
 uint16_t alt_launcher_fb_terminal_key(uint32_t mask, bool osd_button);
diff --git a/video.cpp b/video.cpp
index 1fe23bce3..00ff3503f 100644
--- a/video.cpp
+++ b/video.cpp
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
 #include "support.h"
 #include "support/arcade/mra_loader.h"
+#include "support/zaparoo/alt_launcher.h"
 #include "lib/imlib2/Imlib2.h"
 #include "lib/md5/md5.h"
 
@@ -3536,6 +3537,8 @@ static void video_fb_config()
 {
 	PROFILE_FUNCTION();
 
+	if (alt_launcher_handle_video_fb_config()) return;
+
 	int fb_scale = cfg.fb_size;
 
 	if (fb_scale <= 1)