diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 0932eaf396..4a52e425fa 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -2337,7 +2337,9 @@ void Application::initializeUi() {
         tabletScriptingInterface->getTablet(SYSTEM_TABLET);
     }
     auto offscreenUi = DependencyManager::get<OffscreenUi>();
+    DeadlockWatchdogThread::pause();
     offscreenUi->create();
+    DeadlockWatchdogThread::resume();
 
     auto surfaceContext = offscreenUi->getSurfaceContext();