diff --git a/UI/BackgroundAudio.cpp b/UI/BackgroundAudio.cpp
index 667f30caf0..2dabf2e4ee 100644
--- a/UI/BackgroundAudio.cpp
+++ b/UI/BackgroundAudio.cpp
@@ -564,8 +564,32 @@ void SoundEffectMixer::LoadDefaultSample(UI::UISound sound) {
 	samples_[(size_t)sound] = std::unique_ptr<Sample>(sample);
 }
 
-void SoundEffectMixer::LoadSamples() {
+class SampleLoadTask : public Task {
+public:
+	SampleLoadTask(SoundEffectMixer *mixer) : mixer_(mixer) {}
+	TaskType Type() const override { return TaskType::IO_BLOCKING; }
+	TaskPriority Priority() const override {
+		return TaskPriority::NORMAL;
+	}
+	virtual void Run() {
+		mixer_->LoadSamplesOnThread();
+	}
+private:
+	SoundEffectMixer *mixer_;
+};
+
+void SoundEffectMixer::Init() {
 	samples_.resize((size_t)UI::UISound::COUNT);
+	UI::SetSoundCallback([](UI::UISound sound, float volume) {
+		g_BackgroundAudio.SFX().Play(sound, volume);
+	});
+
+	// Load samples in the background.
+
+	g_threadManager.EnqueueTask(new SampleLoadTask(this));
+}
+
+void SoundEffectMixer::LoadSamplesOnThread() {
 	LoadDefaultSample(UI::UISound::BACK);
 	LoadDefaultSample(UI::UISound::SELECT);
 	LoadDefaultSample(UI::UISound::CONFIRM);
@@ -582,8 +606,4 @@ void SoundEffectMixer::LoadSamples() {
 	} else {
 		LoadDefaultSample(UI::UISound::LEADERBOARD_SUBMITTED);
 	}
-
-	UI::SetSoundCallback([](UI::UISound sound, float volume) {
-		g_BackgroundAudio.SFX().Play(sound, volume);
-	});
 }
diff --git a/UI/BackgroundAudio.h b/UI/BackgroundAudio.h
index 4f2952fd73..1ad0e9eb8f 100644
--- a/UI/BackgroundAudio.h
+++ b/UI/BackgroundAudio.h
@@ -27,8 +27,7 @@ struct Sample {
 // Mixer for things played on top of everything.
 class SoundEffectMixer {
 public:
-	void LoadSamples();
-
+	void Init();
 	void Mix(int16_t *buffer, int sz, int sampleRateHz);
 	void Play(UI::UISound sfx, float volume);
 
@@ -44,7 +43,11 @@ public:
 		bool done;
 	};
 
+	// This can be called on a thread.
+	void LoadSamplesOnThread();
 private:
+	bool samplesLoaded_ = false;
+
 	std::mutex mutex_;
 	std::vector<PlayInstance> queue_;
 	std::vector<PlayInstance> plays_;
diff --git a/UI/NativeApp.cpp b/UI/NativeApp.cpp
index d1e67d3516..a693157d0a 100644
--- a/UI/NativeApp.cpp
+++ b/UI/NativeApp.cpp
@@ -729,8 +729,7 @@ void NativeInit(int argc, const char *argv[], const char *savegame_dir, const ch
 	}
 #endif
 
-	// TODO: Load these in the background instead of synchronously.
-	g_BackgroundAudio.SFX().LoadSamples();
+	g_BackgroundAudio.SFX().Init();
 
 	if (!boot_filename.empty() && stateToLoad.Valid()) {
 		SaveState::Load(stateToLoad, -1, [](SaveState::Status status, std::string_view message, void *) {