diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
index d7a4cda70b..172d0303f5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
@@ -341,7 +341,13 @@ retry:
 	CString sNewBGA = THEME->GetPathToB(sScreenName+" background");
 	if( m_sLastLoadedBackground != sNewBGA )
 	{
-		m_pSharedBGA->LoadFromAniDir( sNewBGA );
+		// Create the new background before deleting the previous so that we keep
+		// any common textures loaded.
+		BGAnimation *pNewBGA = new BGAnimation;
+		pNewBGA->LoadFromAniDir( sNewBGA );
+		SAFE_DELETE( m_pSharedBGA );
+		m_pSharedBGA = pNewBGA;
+
 		m_sLastLoadedBackground = sNewBGA;
 	}