diff --git a/src/core/gpu.cpp b/src/core/gpu.cpp
index 7b3595350..de8b77f24 100644
--- a/src/core/gpu.cpp
+++ b/src/core/gpu.cpp
@@ -449,6 +449,7 @@ void GPU::UpdateCRTCConfig()
     cs.vertical_total = PAL_TOTAL_LINES;
     cs.current_scanline %= PAL_TOTAL_LINES;
     cs.horizontal_total = PAL_TICKS_PER_LINE;
+    cs.horizontal_sync_start = PAL_HSYNC_TICKS;
     cs.current_tick_in_scanline %= PAL_TICKS_PER_LINE;
   }
   else
@@ -456,9 +457,12 @@ void GPU::UpdateCRTCConfig()
     cs.vertical_total = NTSC_TOTAL_LINES;
     cs.current_scanline %= NTSC_TOTAL_LINES;
     cs.horizontal_total = NTSC_TICKS_PER_LINE;
+    cs.horizontal_sync_start = NTSC_HSYNC_TICKS;
     cs.current_tick_in_scanline %= NTSC_TICKS_PER_LINE;
   }
 
+  cs.in_hblank = (cs.current_tick_in_scanline >= cs.horizontal_sync_start);
+
   const u8 horizontal_resolution_index = m_GPUSTAT.horizontal_resolution_1 | (m_GPUSTAT.horizontal_resolution_2 << 2);
   cs.dot_clock_divider = dot_clock_dividers[horizontal_resolution_index];
   cs.horizontal_display_start = std::min<u16>(cs.regs.X1, cs.horizontal_total);
@@ -682,8 +686,8 @@ void GPU::CRTCTickEvent(TickCount ticks)
   {
     // short path when we execute <1 line.. this shouldn't occur often.
     const bool old_hblank = m_crtc_state.in_hblank;
-    const bool new_hblank = m_crtc_state.current_tick_in_scanline < m_crtc_state.horizontal_display_start ||
-                            m_crtc_state.current_tick_in_scanline >= m_crtc_state.horizontal_display_end;
+    const bool new_hblank = (m_crtc_state.current_tick_in_scanline >= m_crtc_state.horizontal_sync_start);
+    m_crtc_state.in_hblank = new_hblank;
     if (!old_hblank && new_hblank && g_timers.IsUsingExternalClock(HBLANK_TIMER_INDEX))
       g_timers.AddTicks(HBLANK_TIMER_INDEX, 1);
 
@@ -699,8 +703,7 @@ void GPU::CRTCTickEvent(TickCount ticks)
 #endif
 
   const bool old_hblank = m_crtc_state.in_hblank;
-  const bool new_hblank = m_crtc_state.current_tick_in_scanline < m_crtc_state.horizontal_display_start ||
-                          m_crtc_state.current_tick_in_scanline >= m_crtc_state.horizontal_display_end;
+  const bool new_hblank = (m_crtc_state.current_tick_in_scanline >= m_crtc_state.horizontal_sync_start);
   m_crtc_state.in_hblank = new_hblank;
   if (g_timers.IsUsingExternalClock(HBLANK_TIMER_INDEX))
   {
diff --git a/src/core/gpu.h b/src/core/gpu.h
index 15ec797bb..3ebe49898 100644
--- a/src/core/gpu.h
+++ b/src/core/gpu.h
@@ -102,8 +102,10 @@ public:
   enum : u16
   {
     NTSC_TICKS_PER_LINE = 3413,
+    NTSC_HSYNC_TICKS = 200,
     NTSC_TOTAL_LINES = 263,
     PAL_TICKS_PER_LINE = 3406,
+    PAL_HSYNC_TICKS = 200, // actually one more on odd lines
     PAL_TOTAL_LINES = 314,
   };
 
@@ -683,6 +685,7 @@ protected:
     u16 display_vram_height;
 
     u16 horizontal_total;
+    u16 horizontal_sync_start; // <- not currently saved to state, so we don't have to bump the version
     u16 horizontal_active_start;
     u16 horizontal_active_end;
     u16 horizontal_display_start;