diff --git a/src/core/host_interface.cpp b/src/core/host_interface.cpp
index 8c92102f7..64340de12 100644
--- a/src/core/host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/core/host_interface.cpp
@@ -1003,7 +1003,17 @@ void HostInterface::SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
   si.SetBoolValue("Debug", "ShowMDECState", false);
 }
 
-void HostInterface::UpdateSettings(const std::function<void()>& apply_callback)
+void HostInterface::ApplySettings(SettingsInterface& si)
+{
+  m_settings.Load(si);
+}
+
+void HostInterface::ExportSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
+{
+  m_settings.Save(si);
+}
+
+void HostInterface::UpdateSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
 {
   const bool old_increase_timer_resolution = m_settings.increase_timer_resolution;
   const float old_emulation_speed = m_settings.emulation_speed;
@@ -1038,7 +1048,7 @@ void HostInterface::UpdateSettings(const std::function<void()>& apply_callback)
   const bool old_log_to_window = m_settings.log_to_window;
   const bool old_log_to_file = m_settings.log_to_file;
 
-  apply_callback();
+  ApplySettings(si);
 
   if (m_system)
   {
diff --git a/src/core/host_interface.h b/src/core/host_interface.h
index 873b59e57..9d855fc2e 100644
--- a/src/core/host_interface.h
+++ b/src/core/host_interface.h
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ protected:
   /// Sets the user directory to the program directory, i.e. "portable mode".
   void SetUserDirectoryToProgramDirectory();
 
-  /// Performs the initial load of settings. Should call CheckSettings() and m_settings.Load().
+  /// Performs the initial load of settings. Should call CheckSettings() and ApplySettings().
   virtual void LoadSettings() = 0;
 
   /// Updates logging settings.
@@ -232,9 +232,14 @@ protected:
   /// Restores all settings to defaults.
   virtual void SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si);
 
-  /// Applies new settings, updating internal state as needed. apply_callback should call m_settings.Load() after
-  /// locking any required mutexes.
-  void UpdateSettings(const std::function<void()>& apply_callback);
+  /// Loads settings to m_settings and any frontend-specific parameters.
+  virtual void ApplySettings(SettingsInterface& si);
+
+  /// Saves current settings variables to ini.
+  virtual void ExportSettings(SettingsInterface& si);
+
+  /// Applies new settings, updating internal state as needed.
+  virtual void UpdateSettings(SettingsInterface& si);
 
   /// Quick switch between software and hardware rendering.
   void ToggleSoftwareRendering();
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
index ab94a5485..799e7f36a 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
@@ -144,9 +144,12 @@ void QtHostInterface::setDefaultSettings()
     return;
   }
 
-  std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> guard(m_qsettings_mutex);
   QtSettingsInterface si(m_qsettings.get());
-  UpdateSettings([this, &si]() { m_settings.Load(si); });
+  {
+    std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> guard(m_qsettings_mutex);
+    SetDefaultSettings(si);
+  }
+  UpdateSettings(si);
   CommonHostInterface::UpdateInputMap(si);
 }
 
@@ -160,7 +163,7 @@ void QtHostInterface::applySettings()
 
   std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> guard(m_qsettings_mutex);
   QtSettingsInterface si(m_qsettings.get());
-  UpdateSettings([this, &si]() { m_settings.Load(si); });
+  UpdateSettings(si);
   CommonHostInterface::UpdateInputMap(si);
 
   // detect when render-to-main flag changes
@@ -388,6 +391,14 @@ bool QtHostInterface::SetFullscreen(bool enabled)
   return true;
 }
 
+void QtHostInterface::PollAndUpdate()
+{
+  CommonHostInterface::PollAndUpdate();
+
+  if (m_controller_interface)
+    m_controller_interface->PollEvents();
+}
+
 void QtHostInterface::RequestExit()
 {
   emit exitRequested();
@@ -450,7 +461,7 @@ void QtHostInterface::OnSystemPerformanceCountersUpdated()
 
 void QtHostInterface::OnRunningGameChanged()
 {
-  HostInterface::OnRunningGameChanged();
+  CommonHostInterface::OnRunningGameChanged();
 
   if (m_system)
   {
@@ -485,7 +496,7 @@ void QtHostInterface::LoadSettings()
 
   // load in settings
   CheckSettings(si);
-  m_settings.Load(si);
+  ApplySettings(si);
 }
 
 void QtHostInterface::SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
@@ -495,6 +506,12 @@ void QtHostInterface::SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
   si.SetBoolValue("Main", "RenderToMainWindow", true);
 }
 
+void QtHostInterface::ApplySettings(SettingsInterface& si)
+{
+  std::lock_guard<std::recursive_mutex> lock(m_qsettings_mutex);
+  CommonHostInterface::ApplySettings(si);
+}
+
 void QtHostInterface::UpdateInputMap()
 {
   updateInputMap();
@@ -771,7 +788,7 @@ void QtHostInterface::saveScreenshot()
 
 void QtHostInterface::doBackgroundControllerPoll()
 {
-  m_controller_interface->PollEvents();
+  PollAndUpdate();
 }
 
 void QtHostInterface::createBackgroundControllerPollTimer()
@@ -855,8 +872,7 @@ void QtHostInterface::threadEntryPoint()
       m_system->Throttle();
 
     m_worker_thread_event_loop->processEvents(QEventLoop::AllEvents);
-    if (m_controller_interface)
-      m_controller_interface->PollEvents();
+    PollAndUpdate();
   }
 
   shutdownOnThread();
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
index 82c569b5a..398f4b782 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
@@ -136,6 +136,7 @@ protected:
   void ReleaseHostDisplay() override;
   bool IsFullscreen() const override;
   bool SetFullscreen(bool enabled) override;
+  void PollAndUpdate() override;
 
   void RequestExit() override;
   std::optional<HostKeyCode> GetHostKeyCode(const std::string_view key_code) const override;
@@ -149,6 +150,7 @@ protected:
 
   void LoadSettings() override;
   void SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si) override;
+  void ApplySettings(SettingsInterface& si) override;
   void UpdateInputMap() override;
 
 private:
diff --git a/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.cpp b/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.cpp
index 4556c7802..d02926e90 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.cpp
@@ -295,17 +295,13 @@ void SDLHostInterface::RunLater(std::function<void()> callback)
   SDL_PushEvent(&ev);
 }
 
-void SDLHostInterface::SaveSettings()
+void SDLHostInterface::SaveAndUpdateSettings()
 {
   m_settings_copy.Save(*m_settings_interface.get());
+  UpdateSettings(*m_settings_interface.get());
   m_settings_interface->Save();
 }
 
-void SDLHostInterface::UpdateSettings()
-{
-  CommonHostInterface::UpdateSettings([this]() { m_settings = m_settings_copy; });
-}
-
 bool SDLHostInterface::IsFullscreen() const
 {
   return m_fullscreen;
@@ -383,8 +379,8 @@ void SDLHostInterface::LoadSettings()
 {
   // Settings need to be loaded prior to creating the window for OpenGL bits.
   m_settings_interface = std::make_unique<INISettingsInterface>(GetSettingsFileName());
-  m_settings_copy.Load(*m_settings_interface.get());
-  m_settings = m_settings_copy;
+  ApplySettings(*m_settings_interface.get());
+  m_settings_copy = m_settings;
 }
 
 void SDLHostInterface::ReportError(const char* message)
@@ -513,6 +509,12 @@ void SDLHostInterface::HandleSDLEvent(const SDL_Event* event)
   }
 }
 
+void SDLHostInterface::PollAndUpdate()
+{
+  CommonHostInterface::PollAndUpdate();
+  ProcessEvents();
+}
+
 void SDLHostInterface::ProcessEvents()
 {
   for (;;)
@@ -794,12 +796,7 @@ void SDLHostInterface::DrawQuickSettingsMenu()
     RunLater([this]() { SaveScreenshot(); });
 
   if (settings_changed)
-  {
-    RunLater([this]() {
-      SaveSettings();
-      UpdateSettings();
-    });
-  }
+    RunLater([this]() { SaveAndUpdateSettings(); });
 }
 
 void SDLHostInterface::DrawDebugMenu()
@@ -831,7 +828,7 @@ void SDLHostInterface::DrawDebugMenu()
     debug_settings_copy.show_spu_state = debug_settings.show_spu_state;
     debug_settings_copy.show_timers_state = debug_settings.show_timers_state;
     debug_settings_copy.show_mdec_state = debug_settings.show_mdec_state;
-    SaveSettings();
+    SaveAndUpdateSettings();
   }
 }
 
@@ -1269,12 +1266,7 @@ void SDLHostInterface::DrawSettingsWindow()
   ImGui::End();
 
   if (settings_changed)
-  {
-    RunLater([this]() {
-      SaveSettings();
-      UpdateSettings();
-    });
-  }
+    RunLater([this]() { SaveAndUpdateSettings(); });
 }
 
 void SDLHostInterface::DrawAboutWindow()
@@ -1380,7 +1372,7 @@ void SDLHostInterface::Run()
 {
   while (!m_quit_request)
   {
-    ProcessEvents();
+    PollAndUpdate();
 
     if (m_system && !m_paused)
     {
diff --git a/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.h b/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.h
index df60ebcaf..13a13cd53 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-sdl/sdl_host_interface.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ protected:
   void OnRunningGameChanged() override;
 
   void RequestExit() override;
+  void PollAndUpdate() override;
 
   std::optional<HostKeyCode> GetHostKeyCode(const std::string_view key_code) const override;
   void UpdateInputMap() override;
@@ -75,8 +76,7 @@ private:
   /// Executes a callback later, after the UI has finished rendering. Needed to boot while rendering ImGui.
   void RunLater(std::function<void()> callback);
 
-  void SaveSettings();
-  void UpdateSettings();
+  void SaveAndUpdateSettings();
 
   bool IsFullscreen() const override;
   bool SetFullscreen(bool enabled) override;
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
index 1e96d3e8e..875c2d1f1 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
@@ -291,6 +291,10 @@ bool CommonHostInterface::ParseCommandLineParameters(int argc, char* argv[],
   return true;
 }
 
+void CommonHostInterface::PollAndUpdate()
+{
+}
+
 bool CommonHostInterface::IsFullscreen() const
 {
   return false;
@@ -356,6 +360,11 @@ void CommonHostInterface::OnSystemDestroyed()
   StopControllerRumble();
 }
 
+void CommonHostInterface::OnRunningGameChanged()
+{
+  HostInterface::OnRunningGameChanged();
+}
+
 void CommonHostInterface::OnControllerTypeChanged(u32 slot)
 {
   HostInterface::OnControllerTypeChanged(slot);
@@ -403,6 +412,11 @@ void CommonHostInterface::SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si)
   si.SetStringValue("Hotkeys", "ToggleSoftwareRendering", "Keyboard/End");
 }
 
+void CommonHostInterface::ApplySettings(SettingsInterface& si)
+{
+  HostInterface::ApplySettings(si);
+}
+
 std::optional<CommonHostInterface::HostKeyCode>
 CommonHostInterface::GetHostKeyCode(const std::string_view key_code) const
 {
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
index df3303c02..8b2bbf25c 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
+++ b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
@@ -67,6 +67,9 @@ protected:
   /// Request the frontend to exit.
   virtual void RequestExit() = 0;
 
+  /// Executes per-frame tasks such as controller polling.
+  virtual void PollAndUpdate();
+
   virtual bool IsFullscreen() const;
   virtual bool SetFullscreen(bool enabled);
 
@@ -76,10 +79,12 @@ protected:
   virtual void OnSystemCreated() override;
   virtual void OnSystemPaused(bool paused) override;
   virtual void OnSystemDestroyed() override;
+  virtual void OnRunningGameChanged() override;
   virtual void OnControllerTypeChanged(u32 slot) override;
   virtual void DrawImGuiWindows() override;
 
   virtual void SetDefaultSettings(SettingsInterface& si) override;
+  virtual void ApplySettings(SettingsInterface& si) override;
 
   virtual std::optional<HostKeyCode> GetHostKeyCode(const std::string_view key_code) const;