diff --git a/mplayer.c b/mplayer.c
index 29f4e42d48..ca51a1a3c6 100644
--- a/mplayer.c
+++ b/mplayer.c
@@ -3058,6 +3058,8 @@ if(!noconsolecontrols && !slave_mode){
 while (player_idle_mode && !filename) {
     play_tree_t * entry = NULL;
     mp_cmd_t * cmd;
+    if (mpctx->video_out && vo_config_count)
+        mpctx->video_out->control(VOCTRL_PAUSE, NULL);
     while (!(cmd = mp_input_get_cmd(0,1,0))) { // wait for command
         if (mpctx->video_out && vo_config_count) mpctx->video_out->check_events();
         usec_sleep(20000);
@@ -3109,6 +3111,9 @@ while (player_idle_mode && !filename) {
 }
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    if (mpctx->video_out && vo_config_count)
+        mpctx->video_out->control(VOCTRL_RESUME, NULL);
+
     if(filename) {
 	mp_msg(MSGT_CPLAYER,MSGL_INFO,MSGTR_Playing,
 		filename_recode(filename));