diff --git a/Core/Core.cpp b/Core/Core.cpp
index e7a256b281..e7112c24e6 100644
--- a/Core/Core.cpp
+++ b/Core/Core.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "Common/Profiler/Profiler.h"
 
 #include "Common/GraphicsContext.h"
+#include "Common/Thread/ThreadUtil.h"
 #include "Common/Log.h"
 #include "Core/Core.h"
 #include "Core/Config.h"
@@ -143,6 +144,8 @@ void Core_ListenLifecycle(CoreLifecycleFunc func) {
 }
 
 void Core_NotifyLifecycle(CoreLifecycle stage) {
+	AssertCurrentThreadName("EmuThread");
+
 	if (stage == CoreLifecycle::STARTING) {
 		Core_ResetException();
 	}
diff --git a/Core/System.cpp b/Core/System.cpp
index 627c4c686d..39292b3cc3 100644
--- a/Core/System.cpp
+++ b/Core/System.cpp
@@ -585,6 +585,8 @@ bool PSP_InitStart(const CoreParameter &coreParam) {
 
 	_assert_msg_(!g_loadingThread.joinable(), "%s", coreParam.fileToStart.c_str());
 
+	Core_NotifyLifecycle(CoreLifecycle::STARTING);
+
 	g_loadingThread = std::thread([error_string]() {
 		SetCurrentThreadName("ExecLoader");
 
@@ -592,8 +594,6 @@ bool PSP_InitStart(const CoreParameter &coreParam) {
 
 		NOTICE_LOG(Log::Boot, "PPSSPP %s", PPSSPP_GIT_VERSION);
 
-		Core_NotifyLifecycle(CoreLifecycle::STARTING);
-
 		Path filename = g_CoreParameter.fileToStart;
 		FileLoader *loadedFile = ResolveFileLoaderTarget(ConstructFileLoader(filename));