diff --git a/Core/MemMap.cpp b/Core/MemMap.cpp
index 69ded52416..2bc1df8e6a 100644
--- a/Core/MemMap.cpp
+++ b/Core/MemMap.cpp
@@ -689,6 +689,7 @@ AddressSpace *CreateMESpace() {
 	_dbg_assert_(base != nullptr && g_meSpace.base == nullptr);
 #if defined(MASKED_PSP_MEMORY) || defined(NO_MMAP)
 	// TODO: Masking would fold the eDRAM mirrors onto the scratchpad and boot page addresses.
+	static_assert(!CanCreateMESpace());
 	return nullptr;
 #else
 	size_t span = 0;
diff --git a/Core/MemMap.h b/Core/MemMap.h
index 63307b937c..a32b7ae773 100644
--- a/Core/MemMap.h
+++ b/Core/MemMap.h
@@ -377,6 +377,14 @@ extern AddressSpace g_mainSpace;
 // as in g_mainSpace. Returns null if this platform can't map memory twice. Only for a boot that runs
 // the ME; Shutdown() (and so Reinit()) destroys it.
 AddressSpace *CreateMESpace();
+// Whether this platform can have one (not with masked memory, or without mmap).
+constexpr bool CanCreateMESpace() {
+#if defined(MASKED_PSP_MEMORY) || defined(NO_MMAP)
+	return false;
+#else
+	return true;
+#endif
+}
 void DestroyMESpace();
 
 void WriteOrException_U8(const u8 data, const u32 address);
diff --git a/UI/GameBrowser.cpp b/UI/GameBrowser.cpp
index 486edcae11..4a41492f15 100644
--- a/UI/GameBrowser.cpp
+++ b/UI/GameBrowser.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include "Core/Util/RecentFiles.h"
 #include "Core/HLE/sceCtrl.h"
 #include "Core/ELF/PBPReader.h"
+#include "Core/MemMap.h"
 #include "Core/Util/VideoPlayer.h"
 
 #include "UI/GameBrowser.h"
@@ -986,7 +987,8 @@ static bool IsValidPBP(const Path &path, bool allowHomebrew) {
 	if (!allowHomebrew && sfo.GetValueString("DISC_ID").empty())
 		return false;
 
-	if (sfo.GetValueString("CATEGORY") == "ME")
+	// PS1 games, which need the Media Engine.
+	if (sfo.GetValueString("CATEGORY") == "ME" && !Memory::CanCreateMESpace())
 		return false;
 
 	return true;
diff --git a/UI/GameInfoCache.cpp b/UI/GameInfoCache.cpp
index 0cde31802f..ebde4182cd 100644
--- a/UI/GameInfoCache.cpp
+++ b/UI/GameInfoCache.cpp
@@ -634,8 +634,10 @@ public:
 						info_->paramSFO.ReadSFO(sfoData);
 						info_->ParseParamSFO(fileType);
 
-						// Assuming PSP_PBP_DIRECTORY without ID or with disc_total < 1 in GAME dir must be homebrew
+						// Assuming PSP_PBP_DIRECTORY without ID or with disc_total < 1 in GAME dir must be homebrew.
+						// Not a PS1 game, whose PARAM.SFO has no DISC_TOTAL.
 						if ((info_->id.empty() || !info_->disc_total)
+							&& info_->paramSFO.GetValueString("CATEGORY") != "ME"
 							&& gamePath_.FilePathContainsNoCase("PSP/GAME/")
 							&& fileType == IdentifiedFileType::PSP_PBP_DIRECTORY) {
 							info_->id = g_paramSFO.GenerateFakeID(gamePath_);