diff --git a/src/core/host_interface.cpp b/src/core/host_interface.cpp
index 1526927e1..355bddf56 100644
--- a/src/core/host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/core/host_interface.cpp
@@ -83,14 +83,14 @@ s32 HostInterface::GetAudioOutputVolume() const
   return g_settings.audio_output_muted ? 0 : g_settings.audio_output_volume;
 }
 
-bool HostInterface::BootSystem(const SystemBootParameters& parameters)
+bool HostInterface::BootSystem(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters> parameters)
 {
-  if (!parameters.state_stream)
+  if (!parameters->state_stream)
   {
-    if (parameters.filename.empty())
+    if (parameters->filename.empty())
       Log_InfoPrintf("Boot Filename: <BIOS/Shell>");
     else
-      Log_InfoPrintf("Boot Filename: %s", parameters.filename.c_str());
+      Log_InfoPrintf("Boot Filename: %s", parameters->filename.c_str());
   }
 
   if (!AcquireHostDisplay())
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ bool HostInterface::BootSystem(const SystemBootParameters& parameters)
   // create the audio stream. this will never fail, since we'll just fall back to null
   CreateAudioStream();
 
-  if (!System::Boot(parameters))
+  if (!System::Boot(*parameters))
   {
     if (!System::IsStartupCancelled())
     {
@@ -417,9 +417,9 @@ bool HostInterface::LoadState(const char* filename)
   }
   else
   {
-    SystemBootParameters boot_params;
-    boot_params.state_stream = std::move(stream);
-    if (!BootSystem(boot_params))
+    auto boot_params = std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>();
+    boot_params->state_stream = std::move(stream);
+    if (!BootSystem(std::move(boot_params)))
       return false;
   }
 
@@ -1164,9 +1164,9 @@ void HostInterface::RecreateSystem()
 
   DestroySystem();
 
-  SystemBootParameters boot_params;
-  boot_params.state_stream = std::move(stream);
-  if (!BootSystem(boot_params))
+  auto boot_params = std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>();
+  boot_params->state_stream = std::move(stream);
+  if (!BootSystem(std::move(boot_params)))
   {
     ReportError("Failed to boot system after recreation.");
     return;
diff --git a/src/core/host_interface.h b/src/core/host_interface.h
index debce9633..14bacc247 100644
--- a/src/core/host_interface.h
+++ b/src/core/host_interface.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public:
   /// Shuts down the emulator frontend.
   virtual void Shutdown();
 
-  virtual bool BootSystem(const SystemBootParameters& parameters);
+  virtual bool BootSystem(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters> parameters);
   virtual void PauseSystem(bool paused);
   virtual void ResetSystem();
   virtual void DestroySystem();
diff --git a/src/duckstation-nogui/main.cpp b/src/duckstation-nogui/main.cpp
index f8cfa78a9..4f3fc15ba 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-nogui/main.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-nogui/main.cpp
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ static int Run(std::unique_ptr<NoGUIHostInterface> host_interface, std::unique_p
   }
 
   if (boot_params)
-    host_interface->BootSystem(*boot_params);
-  boot_params.reset(); // Need to free resume file handle so auto save on exit works
+    host_interface->BootSystem(std::move(boot_params));
 
   int result;
   if (System::IsValid() || !host_interface->InBatchMode())
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
index b0c639e82..7d3bdc5d3 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/mainwindow.cpp
@@ -478,12 +478,12 @@ void MainWindow::onStartDiscActionTriggered()
   if (filename.isEmpty())
     return;
 
-  m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<const SystemBootParameters>(filename.toStdString()));
+  m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>(filename.toStdString()));
 }
 
 void MainWindow::onStartBIOSActionTriggered()
 {
-  m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<const SystemBootParameters>());
+  m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>());
 }
 
 void MainWindow::onChangeDiscFromFileActionTriggered()
@@ -655,9 +655,8 @@ void MainWindow::onGameListContextMenuRequested(const QPoint& point, const GameL
       m_host_interface->populateGameListContextMenu(entry, this, &menu);
       menu.addSeparator();
 
-      connect(menu.addAction(tr("Default Boot")), &QAction::triggered, [this, entry]() {
-        m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<const SystemBootParameters>(entry->path));
-      });
+      connect(menu.addAction(tr("Default Boot")), &QAction::triggered,
+              [this, entry]() { m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>(entry->path)); });
 
       connect(menu.addAction(tr("Fast Boot")), &QAction::triggered, [this, entry]() {
         auto boot_params = std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>(entry->path);
@@ -976,7 +975,7 @@ void MainWindow::startGameOrChangeDiscs(const std::string& path)
     if (m_host_interface->CanResumeSystemFromFile(path.c_str()))
       m_host_interface->resumeSystemFromState(QString::fromStdString(path), true);
     else
-      m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<const SystemBootParameters>(path));
+      m_host_interface->bootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>(path));
   }
   else
   {
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
index 9e7d6b7c0..60b8d44f9 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.cpp
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ Log_SetChannel(QtHostInterface);
 
 QtHostInterface::QtHostInterface(QObject* parent) : QObject(parent), CommonHostInterface()
 {
-  qRegisterMetaType<std::shared_ptr<const SystemBootParameters>>();
+  qRegisterMetaType<std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters>>();
   qRegisterMetaType<const GameListEntry*>();
   qRegisterMetaType<GPURenderer>();
 }
@@ -333,17 +333,17 @@ void QtHostInterface::setMainWindow(MainWindow* window)
   m_main_window = window;
 }
 
-void QtHostInterface::bootSystem(std::shared_ptr<const SystemBootParameters> params)
+void QtHostInterface::bootSystem(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters> params)
 {
   if (!isOnWorkerThread())
   {
     QMetaObject::invokeMethod(this, "bootSystem", Qt::QueuedConnection,
-                              Q_ARG(std::shared_ptr<const SystemBootParameters>, std::move(params)));
+                              Q_ARG(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters>, std::move(params)));
     return;
   }
 
   emit emulationStarting();
-  if (!BootSystem(*params))
+  if (!BootSystem(std::move(params)))
     return;
 
   // force a frame to be drawn to repaint the window
diff --git a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
index 34e3fd0a0..a5d8a089a 100644
--- a/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
+++ b/src/duckstation-qt/qthostinterface.h
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class INISettingsInterface;
 class MainWindow;
 class QtDisplayWidget;
 
-Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(std::shared_ptr<const SystemBootParameters>);
+Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters>);
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(const GameListEntry*);
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(GPURenderer);
 
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ public Q_SLOTS:
   void applySettings(bool display_osd_messages = false);
   void updateInputMap();
   void applyInputProfile(const QString& profile_path);
-  void bootSystem(std::shared_ptr<const SystemBootParameters> params);
+  void bootSystem(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters> params);
   void resumeSystemFromState(const QString& filename, bool boot_on_failure);
   void resumeSystemFromMostRecentState();
   void powerOffSystem();
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
index 744b2d4fb..abee5352a 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.cpp
@@ -168,13 +168,13 @@ void CommonHostInterface::InitializeUserDirectory()
     ReportError("Failed to create one or more user directories. This may cause issues at runtime.");
 }
 
-bool CommonHostInterface::BootSystem(const SystemBootParameters& parameters)
+bool CommonHostInterface::BootSystem(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters> parameters)
 {
   // If the fullscreen UI is enabled, make sure it's finished loading the game list so we don't race it.
   if (m_display && m_fullscreen_ui_enabled)
     FullscreenUI::EnsureGameListLoaded();
 
-  ApplyRendererFromGameSettings(parameters.filename);
+  ApplyRendererFromGameSettings(parameters->filename);
 
   if (!HostInterface::BootSystem(parameters))
   {
@@ -186,8 +186,8 @@ bool CommonHostInterface::BootSystem(const SystemBootParameters& parameters)
   }
 
   // enter fullscreen if requested in the parameters
-  if (!g_settings.start_paused && ((parameters.override_fullscreen.has_value() && *parameters.override_fullscreen) ||
-                                   (!parameters.override_fullscreen.has_value() && g_settings.start_fullscreen)))
+  if (!g_settings.start_paused && ((parameters->override_fullscreen.has_value() && *parameters->override_fullscreen) ||
+                                   (!parameters->override_fullscreen.has_value() && g_settings.start_fullscreen)))
   {
     SetFullscreen(true);
   }
@@ -739,9 +739,7 @@ bool CommonHostInterface::CanResumeSystemFromFile(const char* filename)
 
 bool CommonHostInterface::ResumeSystemFromState(const char* filename, bool boot_on_failure)
 {
-  SystemBootParameters boot_params;
-  boot_params.filename = filename;
-  if (!BootSystem(boot_params))
+  if (!BootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>(filename)))
     return false;
 
   const bool global = System::GetRunningCode().empty();
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
index 0c7e2690b..fea38c842 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
+++ b/src/frontend-common/common_host_interface.h
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ public:
 
   virtual void Shutdown() override;
 
-  virtual bool BootSystem(const SystemBootParameters& parameters) override;
+  virtual bool BootSystem(std::shared_ptr<SystemBootParameters> parameters) override;
   virtual void ResetSystem() override;
   virtual void DestroySystem() override;
 
diff --git a/src/frontend-common/fullscreen_ui.cpp b/src/frontend-common/fullscreen_ui.cpp
index 69b99add6..7ad0abd42 100644
--- a/src/frontend-common/fullscreen_ui.cpp
+++ b/src/frontend-common/fullscreen_ui.cpp
@@ -551,9 +551,7 @@ static void DoStartPath(const std::string& path, bool allow_resume)
     return;
   }
 
-  SystemBootParameters params;
-  params.filename = path;
-  s_host_interface->BootSystem(params);
+  s_host_interface->BootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>(path));
 }
 
 static void DoStartFile()
@@ -571,10 +569,7 @@ static void DoStartFile()
 
 static void DoStartBIOS()
 {
-  s_host_interface->RunLater([]() {
-    SystemBootParameters boot_params;
-    s_host_interface->BootSystem(boot_params);
-  });
+  s_host_interface->RunLater([]() { s_host_interface->BootSystem(std::make_shared<SystemBootParameters>()); });
   ClearImGuiFocus();
 }