diff --git a/src/sdl-instead/game.c b/src/sdl-instead/game.c
index d102c4e..89a1546 100644
--- a/src/sdl-instead/game.c
+++ b/src/sdl-instead/game.c
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@ static void anigif_do(void *data)
 int counter_fn(int interval, void *p)
 {
 	timer_counter ++;
-	if (gfx_is_drawn_gifs())
+	if (gfx_is_drawn_gifs() && !DIRECT_MODE)
 		push_user_event(anigif_do, NULL);
 	return interval;
 }
diff --git a/src/sdl-instead/graphics.c b/src/sdl-instead/graphics.c
index b66290c..a713bdb 100644
--- a/src/sdl-instead/graphics.c
+++ b/src/sdl-instead/graphics.c
@@ -939,7 +939,10 @@ void gfx_draw(img_t p, int x, int y)
 	dest.y = y; 
 	dest.w = pixbuf->w; 
 	dest.h = pixbuf->h;
-	ag = is_anigif(pixbuf);
+	if (!DIRECT_MODE) /* no gifs in direct mode */
+		ag = is_anigif(pixbuf);
+	else
+		ag = NULL;
 	if (ag) {
 		anigif_spawn(ag, x, y, dest.w, dest.h);
 		if (!ag->drawn)