From bb0c787a96c079058adb8d9b9b1af5a1294ff71b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Craig Carnell <1188869+cscd98@users.noreply.github.com>
Date: Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:34:51 +0100
Subject: [PATCH] libretro: add OSD message when core system files are not
 installed

---
 Source/Core/DolphinLibretro/Boot.cpp | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/Source/Core/DolphinLibretro/Boot.cpp b/Source/Core/DolphinLibretro/Boot.cpp
index 2b9594672ebd..b8b8d1b32f7a 100644
--- a/Source/Core/DolphinLibretro/Boot.cpp
+++ b/Source/Core/DolphinLibretro/Boot.cpp
@@ -304,8 +304,12 @@ bool retro_load_game(const struct retro_game_info* game)
   const std::string codehandler = std::string(sys_dir) + DIR_SEP GECKO_CODE_HANDLER;
 
   if (!File::Exists(codehandler))
+  {
+    OSD::AddMessage(fmt::format("Core file {} missing! Go to Online Updater ->\nCore System Files Downloader -> Install Dolphin.zip",
+      GECKO_CODE_HANDLER), OSD::Duration::VERY_LONG, OSD::Color::RED);
     ERROR_LOG_FMT(BOOT, "Core file {} missing! Go to Online Updater -> Core System Files Downloader -> Install Dolphin.zip",
       GECKO_CODE_HANDLER);
+  }
 
   // Main.Core
   Config::SetBase(Config::MAIN_CPU_CORE,