diff --git a/src/misc_cmd.cpp b/src/misc_cmd.cpp
index b3a3a59764..ba2f1ba5a0 100644
--- a/src/misc_cmd.cpp
+++ b/src/misc_cmd.cpp
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 /** @file misc_cmd.cpp Some misc functions that are better fitted in other files, but never got moved there... */
 
 #include "stdafx.h"
+#include "openttd.h"
 #include "command_func.h"
 #include "economy_func.h"
 #include "window_func.h"
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "texteff.hpp"
 #include "core/backup_type.hpp"
 #include "misc_cmd.h"
+#include "video/video_driver.hpp"
 
 #include "table/strings.h"
 
@@ -204,6 +206,9 @@ CommandCost CmdPause(DoCommandFlags flags, PauseMode mode, bool pause)
 			}
 
 			NetworkHandlePauseChange(prev_mode, mode);
+
+			/* Screensaver should always be inhibited unless we're paused. */
+			VideoDriver::GetInstance()->SetScreensaverInhibited(_pause_mode.None());
 		}
 
 		SetWindowDirty(WC_STATUS_BAR, 0);
diff --git a/src/video/sdl2_v.cpp b/src/video/sdl2_v.cpp
index e31afce540..0de7c8802c 100644
--- a/src/video/sdl2_v.cpp
+++ b/src/video/sdl2_v.cpp
@@ -754,3 +754,12 @@ void VideoDriver_SDL_Base::UnlockVideoBuffer()
 
 	this->buffer_locked = false;
 }
+
+void VideoDriver_SDL_Base::SetScreensaverInhibited(bool inhibited)
+{
+	if (inhibited) {
+		SDL_DisableScreenSaver();
+	} else {
+		SDL_EnableScreenSaver();
+	}
+}
diff --git a/src/video/sdl2_v.h b/src/video/sdl2_v.h
index 08f657dee5..596498997a 100644
--- a/src/video/sdl2_v.h
+++ b/src/video/sdl2_v.h
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ public:
 
 	std::string_view GetInfoString() const override { return this->driver_info; }
 
+	void SetScreensaverInhibited(bool inhibited) override;
+
 protected:
 	struct SDL_Window *sdl_window = nullptr; ///< Main SDL window.
 	Palette local_palette{}; ///< Current palette to use for drawing.
diff --git a/src/video/video_driver.hpp b/src/video/video_driver.hpp
index 7aafcbdb3f..66df76dba2 100644
--- a/src/video/video_driver.hpp
+++ b/src/video/video_driver.hpp
@@ -186,6 +186,13 @@ public:
 
 	void GameLoopPause();
 
+	/**
+	 * Prevents the system from going to sleep.
+	 *
+	 * @param inhibited If true, sleep will be disabled. If false, sleep will be enabled.
+	 */
+	virtual void SetScreensaverInhibited([[maybe_unused]] bool inhibited) {}
+
 	/**
 	 * Get the currently active instance of the video driver.
 	 */