diff --git a/Core/Util/GameDB.cpp b/Core/Util/GameDB.cpp
index c29066b95e..804aa055a0 100644
--- a/Core/Util/GameDB.cpp
+++ b/Core/Util/GameDB.cpp
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 
 GameDB g_gameDB;
 
+static const char *const g_gameDBFilename = "redump.csv";
+
 static void SplitCSVLine(const std::string_view str, std::vector<std::string_view> &result) {
 	result.clear();
 
@@ -57,11 +59,19 @@ static void SplitSV(std::string_view strv, char delim, bool removeWhiteSpace, st
 	}
 }
 
-bool GameDB::LoadFromVFS(VFSInterface &vfs, const char *filename) {
+void GameDB::LoadIfNeeded() {
+	if (loaded_) {
+		// Already loaded
+		return;
+	}
+
+	loaded_ = true;
+
 	size_t size;
-	uint8_t *data = vfs.ReadFile(filename, &size);
+	uint8_t *data = g_VFS.ReadFile(g_gameDBFilename, &size);
 	if (!data)
-		return false;
+		return;
+
 	contents_ = std::string((const char *)data, size);
 	delete[] data;
 
@@ -99,7 +109,6 @@ bool GameDB::LoadFromVFS(VFSInterface &vfs, const char *filename) {
 		line.size = items[sizeColumn];
 		lines_.push_back(line);
 	}
-	return true;
 }
 
 size_t GameDB::GetColumnIndex(std::string_view name) const {
@@ -128,7 +137,11 @@ bool GameDB::GetGameInfos(std::string_view id, std::vector<GameDBInfo> *infos) {
 		// Not a game.
 		return false;
 	}
-	
+
+	std::lock_guard<std::mutex> guard(loadMutex_);
+
+	LoadIfNeeded();
+
 	for (auto &line : lines_) {
 		for (auto &serial : line.serials) {
 			// Ignore version and stuff for now
diff --git a/Core/Util/GameDB.h b/Core/Util/GameDB.h
index d2c24f97a5..5d211da724 100644
--- a/Core/Util/GameDB.h
+++ b/Core/Util/GameDB.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include <string_view>
+#include <mutex>
 
 class VFSInterface;
 
@@ -17,10 +18,12 @@ struct GameDBInfo {
 
 class GameDB {
 public:
-	bool LoadFromVFS(VFSInterface &vfs, const char *filename);
+	// Warning: Linear search. Don't call it every frame if possible.
 	bool GetGameInfos(std::string_view id, std::vector<GameDBInfo> *infos);
 
 private:
+	// Call under lock.
+	void LoadIfNeeded();
 	size_t GetColumnIndex(std::string_view name) const;
 
 	struct Line {
@@ -36,6 +39,9 @@ private:
 	std::string contents_;
 	std::vector<Line> lines_;
 	std::vector<std::string_view> columns_;
+	bool loaded_ = false;
+
+	std::mutex loadMutex_;
 };
 
 extern GameDB g_gameDB;
diff --git a/UI/NativeApp.cpp b/UI/NativeApp.cpp
index c21a2f7609..e418b69022 100644
--- a/UI/NativeApp.cpp
+++ b/UI/NativeApp.cpp
@@ -784,10 +784,6 @@ void NativeInit(int argc, const char *argv[], const char *savegame_dir, const ch
 	// Initialize retro achievements runtime.
 	Achievements::Initialize();
 
-#if !defined(__LIBRETRO__)
-	g_gameDB.LoadFromVFS(g_VFS, "redump.csv");
-#endif
-
 	// Must be done restarting by now.
 	restarting = false;
 }