diff --git a/src/core/linux/SDL_dbus.c b/src/core/linux/SDL_dbus.c
index c2ba582b0..40b3bd307 100644
--- a/src/core/linux/SDL_dbus.c
+++ b/src/core/linux/SDL_dbus.c
@@ -310,9 +310,11 @@ SDL_DBus_QueryProperty(const char *node, const char *path, const char *interface
 void
 SDL_DBus_ScreensaverTickle(void)
 {
-    /* org.gnome.ScreenSaver is the legacy interface, but it'll either do nothing or just be a second harmless tickle on newer systems, so we leave it for now. */
-    SDL_DBus_CallVoidMethod("org.gnome.ScreenSaver", "/org/gnome/ScreenSaver", "org.gnome.ScreenSaver", "SimulateUserActivity", DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
-    SDL_DBus_CallVoidMethod("org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver", "/org/freedesktop/ScreenSaver", "org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver", "SimulateUserActivity", DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+    if (screensaver_cookie == 0) {  /* no need to tickle if we're inhibiting. */
+        /* org.gnome.ScreenSaver is the legacy interface, but it'll either do nothing or just be a second harmless tickle on newer systems, so we leave it for now. */
+        SDL_DBus_CallVoidMethod("org.gnome.ScreenSaver", "/org/gnome/ScreenSaver", "org.gnome.ScreenSaver", "SimulateUserActivity", DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+        SDL_DBus_CallVoidMethod("org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver", "/org/freedesktop/ScreenSaver", "org.freedesktop.ScreenSaver", "SimulateUserActivity", DBUS_TYPE_INVALID);
+    }
 }
 
 SDL_bool