diff --git a/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.cpp b/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.cpp
index cee8d760b6..1483303ba7 100644
--- a/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.cpp
+++ b/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.cpp
@@ -452,20 +452,15 @@ void GameListWidget::setCustomBackground()
 	m_table_view->viewport()->setAutoFillBackground(false);
 	m_list_view->viewport()->setAutoFillBackground(false);
 	m_background_movie->start();
-	updateCustomBackgroundState(true);
+	updateCustomBackgroundState();
 	m_table_view->setAlternatingRowColors(false);
 	processBackgroundFrames();
 }
 
-void GameListWidget::updateCustomBackgroundState(const bool force_start)
+void GameListWidget::updateCustomBackgroundState()
 {
 	if (m_background_movie && m_background_movie->isValid())
-	{
-		if ((isVisible() && (isActiveWindow() || force_start)) && qGuiApp->applicationState() == Qt::ApplicationActive)
-			m_background_movie->setPaused(false);
-		else
-			m_background_movie->setPaused(true);
-	}
+		m_background_movie->setPaused(!(isVisible() && qGuiApp->applicationState() == Qt::ApplicationActive));
 }
 
 void GameListWidget::processBackgroundFrames()
diff --git a/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.h b/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.h
index 1d2d2dcb6d..fd44885bfd 100644
--- a/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.h
+++ b/pcsx2-qt/GameList/GameListWidget.h
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public:
 	void cancelRefresh();
 	void reloadThemeSpecificImages();
 	void setCustomBackground();
-	void updateCustomBackgroundState(const bool force_start = false);
+	void updateCustomBackgroundState();
 	void processBackgroundFrames();
 	void updateBackgroundTextColor(const QPixmap& frame);