diff --git a/src/core/android/SDL_android.c b/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
index ed1879608..ad305229b 100644
--- a/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
+++ b/src/core/android/SDL_android.c
@@ -820,8 +820,10 @@ JNIEXPORT void JNICALL SDL_JAVA_INTERFACE(nativePause)(
         SDL_SendAppEvent(SDL_APP_DIDENTERBACKGROUND);
 
         /* *After* sending the relevant events, signal the pause semaphore
-         * so the event loop knows to pause and (optionally) block itself */
-        if (!SDL_SemValue(Android_PauseSem)) SDL_SemPost(Android_PauseSem);
+         * so the event loop knows to pause and (optionally) block itself.
+         * Sometimes 2 pauses can be queued (eg pause/resume/pause), so it's
+         * always increased. */
+        SDL_SemPost(Android_PauseSem);
     }
 
     SDL_UnlockMutex(Android_ActivityMutex);
diff --git a/src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c b/src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c
index ac2374144..a0367ca2d 100644
--- a/src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c
+++ b/src/video/android/SDL_androidevents.c
@@ -39,6 +39,13 @@ static void ANDROIDAUDIO_ResumeDevices(void) {}
 static void ANDROIDAUDIO_PauseDevices(void) {}
 #endif
 
+/* Number of event types in the event queue */
+static int
+SDL_NumberOfEvent(Uint32 type)
+{
+    return SDL_PeepEvents(NULL, 0, SDL_PEEKEVENT, type, type);
+}
+
 static void
 android_egl_context_restore(SDL_Window *window)
 {
@@ -103,9 +110,10 @@ Android_PumpEvents(_THIS)
         }
     } else {
         if (isPausing || SDL_SemTryWait(Android_PauseSem) == 0) {
-            /* We've been signaled to pause, but before we block ourselves,
-            we need to make sure that the very last event have reached the app */
-            if (SDL_HasEvent(SDL_APP_DIDENTERBACKGROUND)) {
+            /* We've been signaled to pause (potentially several times), but before we block ourselves,
+             * we need to make sure that the very last event (of the first pause sequence, if several)
+             * has reached the app */
+            if (SDL_NumberOfEvent(SDL_APP_DIDENTERBACKGROUND) > SDL_SemValue(Android_PauseSem)) {
                 isPausing = 1;
             }
             else {