diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
index 7c0e58e48f..d041e32bc5 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.cpp
@@ -403,22 +403,20 @@ retry:
 	CString sNewBGA;
 	if( pNewScreen->UsesBackground() )
 		sNewBGA = THEME->GetPathB(sScreenName,"background");
-	if( sNewBGA.empty() )
-	{
-		SAFE_DELETE( m_pSharedBGA );
-		m_pSharedBGA = new Actor;
-		m_sLastLoadedBackgroundPath = "";
-	}
-	else if( m_sLastLoadedBackgroundPath != sNewBGA )
+	if( sNewBGA != m_pSharedBGA->GetName() )
 	{
 		// Create the new background before deleting the previous so that we keep
 		// any common textures loaded.
-		Actor *pNewBGA = ActorUtil::MakeActor( sNewBGA );
+		Actor *pNewBGA;
+		if( sNewBGA.empty() )
+			pNewBGA = new Actor;
+		else
+			pNewBGA = ActorUtil::MakeActor( sNewBGA );
+		pNewBGA->SetName( sNewBGA );
+
 		SAFE_DELETE( m_pSharedBGA );
 		m_pSharedBGA = pNewBGA;
 		m_pSharedBGA->PlayCommand( "On" );
-
-		m_sLastLoadedBackgroundPath = sNewBGA;
 	}
 
 	bool bIsOnSystemMenu = pNewScreen->GetScreenType() == system_menu;
diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h
index 49e3faddeb..de09a9c836 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenManager.h
@@ -107,7 +107,6 @@ private:
 
 	Actor				*m_pSharedBGA;	// BGA object that's persistent between screens
 
-	CString				m_sLastLoadedBackgroundPath;
 	CString				m_sDelayedScreen;
 	CString				m_sSystemMessage;
 	vector<Screen*>		m_vPreparedScreens;