diff --git a/crates/horizon-client/src/game/options.rs b/crates/horizon-client/src/game/options.rs
index 7ac4ae98b..a71494075 100644
--- a/crates/horizon-client/src/game/options.rs
+++ b/crates/horizon-client/src/game/options.rs
@@ -273,6 +273,7 @@ impl Game<'_> {
                 s.horizon.hdr,
                 s.horizon.hdr_paper_white as f32,
                 s.horizon.hdr_peak as f32,
+                &Self::options_path().with_file_name(horizon_client::graphics::HDR_MARKER),
             );
         }
         // Window.updateFullscreenIfChanged: only a changed option asks the
diff --git a/crates/horizon-client/src/gfx.rs b/crates/horizon-client/src/gfx.rs
index ad1fd0561..69449f67f 100644
--- a/crates/horizon-client/src/gfx.rs
+++ b/crates/horizon-client/src/gfx.rs
@@ -537,6 +537,9 @@ pub struct Renderer {
     hdr: Option<hdr::Hdr>,
     /// The HDR output the window's surface can present.
     hdr_output: Option<hdr::Output>,
+    /// The marker file of an HDR output that has not presented a frame yet
+    /// (`graphics::HDR_MARKER`).
+    hdr_marker: Option<std::path::PathBuf>,
     /// The shader pack's post-processing, and the dimension (legacy id) it was loaded for.
     pack_post: Option<(i32, Option<pack_post::PackPost>)>,
     /// The post passes of one of Horizon's own shader packs; never beside `pack_post`'s.
@@ -2642,6 +2645,7 @@ impl Renderer {
             world_post,
             hdr: None,
             hdr_output,
+            hdr_marker: None,
             pack_post: None,
             native: None,
             pass_timing: pack_timing::PassTiming::logging(),
@@ -3200,9 +3204,17 @@ impl Renderer {
     }
     /// HDR output (Horizon setting): HDR10 or scRGB at `paper_white` nits, the world's
     /// highlights expanded up to `peak` nits. Off where the surface can't present it.
-    pub fn set_hdr(&mut self, on: bool, paper_white: f32, peak: f32) {
+    pub fn set_hdr(&mut self, on: bool, paper_white: f32, peak: f32, marker: &std::path::Path) {
         let output = self.hdr_output.filter(|_| on && self.surface.is_some());
         if output.is_some() != self.hdr.is_some() {
+            // If the game dies before HDR output shows a frame, the marker is still there at
+            // the next start, which then comes up with HDR off.
+            if output.is_some() {
+                let _ = std::fs::write(marker, "HDR output was being switched on\n");
+                self.hdr_marker = Some(marker.to_owned());
+            } else if let Some(marker) = self.hdr_marker.take() {
+                let _ = std::fs::remove_file(marker);
+            }
             let format = self.config.format.remove_srgb_suffix();
             self.hdr = output.map(|output| hdr::Hdr::new(&self.device, format, output));
             self.configure_surface();
@@ -5229,6 +5241,12 @@ impl Renderer {
                 startup_step(format_args!("presenting the first frame"));
             }
             self.queue.present(surface_frame);
+            if self.hdr.is_some()
+                && let Some(marker) = self.hdr_marker.take()
+            {
+                let _ = std::fs::remove_file(marker);
+                log::info!("Horizon renderer: HDR output presented its first frame");
+            }
             if reconfigure && let Some(surface) = &self.surface {
                 Self::configure(
                     &self.device,
diff --git a/crates/horizon-client/src/graphics.rs b/crates/horizon-client/src/graphics.rs
index fbf67f9ad..436c6afbb 100644
--- a/crates/horizon-client/src/graphics.rs
+++ b/crates/horizon-client/src/graphics.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,9 @@
 use std::{fs, path::Path};
 
 pub const FILE: &str = "horizon-graphics.txt";
+/// Written beside it before HDR output is switched on and removed once the first HDR frame is
+/// presented. Found at the next start, it means HDR output took the game down, so HDR starts off.
+pub const HDR_MARKER: &str = "horizon-hdr-pending";
 
 /// Simple-level presets. `Custom` leaves every option as the player set it.
 #[derive(Clone, Copy, Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Default)]
@@ -310,9 +313,17 @@ fn bool_text(v: bool) -> &'static str {
 }
 impl Graphics {
     pub fn load(dir: &Path) -> Self {
-        fs::read_to_string(dir.join(FILE))
+        let mut g: Self = fs::read_to_string(dir.join(FILE))
             .map(|t| Self::parse(&t))
-            .unwrap_or_default()
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        if fs::remove_file(dir.join(HDR_MARKER)).is_ok() && g.hdr {
+            g.hdr = false;
+            g.save(dir);
+            log::warn!(
+                "the last start ended before HDR output showed a frame; HDR is off now (graphics option hdr, in {FILE})"
+            );
+        }
+        g
     }
     pub fn parse(text: &str) -> Self {
         let mut g = Self::default();