diff --git a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
index 659bc1daa..a253e3ff0 100644
--- a/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
+++ b/src/render/OpenGL.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "../protocols/types/ColorManagement.hpp"
 #include "../managers/HookSystemManager.hpp"
 #include "../managers/input/InputManager.hpp"
+#include "../managers/eventLoop/EventLoopManager.hpp"
 #include "../helpers/fs/FsUtils.hpp"
 #include "debug/HyprNotificationOverlay.hpp"
 #include "hyprerror/HyprError.hpp"
@@ -2752,19 +2753,36 @@ void CHyprOpenGLImpl::useProgram(GLuint prog) {
 void CHyprOpenGLImpl::initAssets() {
     initMissingAssetTexture();
 
-    m_lockDeadTexture  = loadAsset("lockdead.png");
-    m_lockDead2Texture = loadAsset("lockdead2.png");
-
-    m_lockTtyTextTexture = renderText(
-        std::format("Running on tty {}",
-                    g_pCompositor->m_aqBackend->hasSession() && g_pCompositor->m_aqBackend->session->vt > 0 ? std::to_string(g_pCompositor->m_aqBackend->session->vt) : "unknown"),
-        CHyprColor{0.9F, 0.9F, 0.9F, 0.7F}, 20, true);
-
     m_screencopyDeniedTexture = renderText("Permission denied to share screen", Colors::WHITE, 20);
 
     ensureBackgroundTexturePresence();
 }
 
+void CHyprOpenGLImpl::ensureLockTexturesRendered(bool load) {
+    static bool loaded = false;
+
+    if (loaded == load)
+        return;
+
+    loaded = load;
+
+    if (load) {
+        // this will cause a small hitch. I don't think we can do much, other than wasting VRAM and having this loaded all the time.
+        m_lockDeadTexture  = loadAsset("lockdead.png");
+        m_lockDead2Texture = loadAsset("lockdead2.png");
+
+        m_lockTtyTextTexture = renderText(std::format("Running on tty {}",
+                                                      g_pCompositor->m_aqBackend->hasSession() && g_pCompositor->m_aqBackend->session->vt > 0 ?
+                                                          std::to_string(g_pCompositor->m_aqBackend->session->vt) :
+                                                          "unknown"),
+                                          CHyprColor{0.9F, 0.9F, 0.9F, 0.7F}, 20, true);
+    } else {
+        m_lockDeadTexture.reset();
+        m_lockDead2Texture.reset();
+        m_lockTtyTextTexture.reset();
+    }
+}
+
 void CHyprOpenGLImpl::ensureBackgroundTexturePresence() {
     static auto PNOWALLPAPER    = CConfigValue<Hyprlang::INT>("misc:disable_hyprland_logo");
     static auto PFORCEWALLPAPER = CConfigValue<Hyprlang::INT>("misc:force_default_wallpaper");
diff --git a/src/render/OpenGL.hpp b/src/render/OpenGL.hpp
index 92d9b7d38..fc091f36d 100644
--- a/src/render/OpenGL.hpp
+++ b/src/render/OpenGL.hpp
@@ -249,6 +249,8 @@ class CHyprOpenGLImpl {
     GLuint                                      compileShader(const GLuint&, std::string, bool dynamic = false, bool silent = false);
     void                                        useProgram(GLuint prog);
 
+    void                                        ensureLockTexturesRendered(bool load);
+
     bool                                        m_shadersInitialized = false;
     SP<SPreparedShaders>                        m_shaders;
 
@@ -329,7 +331,7 @@ class CHyprOpenGLImpl {
     SP<CTexture>            m_backgroundTexture;
     SP<CTexture>            m_lockDeadTexture;
     SP<CTexture>            m_lockDead2Texture;
-    SP<CTexture>            m_lockTtyTextTexture; // TODO: don't always load lock
+    SP<CTexture>            m_lockTtyTextTexture;
 
     void                    logShaderError(const GLuint&, bool program = false, bool silent = false);
     void                    createBGTextureForMonitor(PHLMONITOR);
diff --git a/src/render/Renderer.cpp b/src/render/Renderer.cpp
index 43d4ece5d..f828deb4b 100644
--- a/src/render/Renderer.cpp
+++ b/src/render/Renderer.cpp
@@ -835,8 +835,7 @@ void CHyprRenderer::renderAllClientsForWorkspace(PHLMONITOR pMonitor, PHLWORKSPA
         return;
 
     if (g_pSessionLockManager->isSessionLocked() && !g_pSessionLockManager->isSessionLockPresent()) {
-        // locked with no exclusive, draw only red
-        renderSessionLockMissing(pMonitor);
+        // do not render anything. We will render a lockscreen anyways later.
         return;
     }
 
@@ -989,12 +988,21 @@ void CHyprRenderer::renderAllClientsForWorkspace(PHLMONITOR pMonitor, PHLWORKSPA
 void CHyprRenderer::renderLockscreen(PHLMONITOR pMonitor, const Time::steady_tp& now, const CBox& geometry) {
     TRACY_GPU_ZONE("RenderLockscreen");
 
-    if (g_pSessionLockManager->isSessionLocked()) {
+    const bool LOCKED = g_pSessionLockManager->isSessionLocked();
+
+    g_pHyprOpenGL->ensureLockTexturesRendered(                                     //
+        LOCKED &&                                                                  // session is locked AND
+        !g_pSessionLockManager->getSessionLockSurfaceForMonitor(pMonitor->m_id) && // no session lock surface AND
+        (g_pSessionLockManager->shallConsiderLockMissing() ||
+         !g_pSessionLockManager->isSessionLockPresent()) // we can consider rendering the lockMissing texture OR there is no client altogether
+    );
+
+    if (LOCKED) {
         Vector2D   translate = {geometry.x, geometry.y};
 
         const auto PSLS = g_pSessionLockManager->getSessionLockSurfaceForMonitor(pMonitor->m_id);
         if (!PSLS) {
-            if (g_pSessionLockManager->shallConsiderLockMissing())
+            if (g_pSessionLockManager->shallConsiderLockMissing() || !g_pSessionLockManager->isSessionLockPresent())
                 renderSessionLockMissing(pMonitor);
         } else {
             renderSessionLockSurface(PSLS, pMonitor, now);