diff --git a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
index a7fbff4205..f872310c95 100644
--- a/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
+++ b/direct/src/showbase/ShowBase.py
@@ -368,8 +368,6 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
 
         if self.windowType != 'none':
             self.__doStartDirect()
-            if self.config.GetBool('show-tex-mem', False):
-                self.toggleTexMem()
 
         taskMgr.finalInit()
 
@@ -791,6 +789,10 @@ class ShowBase(DirectObject.DirectObject):
             self.setFrameRateMeter(self.config.GetBool(
                 'show-frame-rate-meter', 0))
 
+            if self.config.GetBool('show-tex-mem', False):
+                if not self.texmem or self.texmem.cleanedUp:
+                    self.toggleTexMem()
+
         return success
 
     def setSleep(self, amount):