diff --git a/video/out/vulkan/context.c b/video/out/vulkan/context.c
index b819345d74..29a2c9b727 100644
--- a/video/out/vulkan/context.c
+++ b/video/out/vulkan/context.c
@@ -133,6 +133,9 @@ struct priv {
     int num_sems;
     int idx_sems;             // index of next free semaphore pair
     int last_imgidx;          // the image index last acquired (for submit)
+
+    // This is used to pre-fetch the next frame at the end of swap_buffers
+    struct ra_fbo queued_fbo;
 };
 
 static const struct ra_swapchain_fns vulkan_swapchain;
@@ -405,6 +408,9 @@ bool ra_vk_ctx_resize(struct ra_swapchain *sw, int w, int h)
         p->sems_out[idx] = sem_out;
     }
 
+    // Invalidate the queued texture
+    p->queued_fbo = (struct ra_fbo) {0};
+
     // Recreate the ra_tex wrappers
     for (int i = 0; i < p->num_images; i++)
         ra_tex_free(ra, &p->images[i]);
@@ -455,6 +461,13 @@ static bool start_frame(struct ra_swapchain *sw, struct ra_fbo *out_fbo)
     if (!p->swapchain)
         return false;
 
+    if (p->queued_fbo.tex) {
+        assert(out_fbo != &p->queued_fbo);
+        *out_fbo = p->queued_fbo;
+        p->queued_fbo = (struct ra_fbo) {0};
+        return true;
+    }
+
     VkSemaphore sem_in = p->sems_in[p->idx_sems];
     MP_TRACE(vk, "vkAcquireNextImageKHR signals %p\n", (void *)sem_in);
 
@@ -565,6 +578,12 @@ static void swap_buffers(struct ra_swapchain *sw)
 
     while (p->frames_in_flight >= sw->ctx->opts.swapchain_depth)
         mpvk_poll_commands(p->vk, 100000); // 100μs
+
+    // Also try and block until the next hardware buffer swap early. this
+    // prevents start_frame from blocking later, thus slightly improving the
+    // frame timing stats. (since mpv assumes most blocking will happen in
+    // swap_buffers)
+    start_frame(sw, &p->queued_fbo);
 }
 
 static const struct ra_swapchain_fns vulkan_swapchain = {