diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.cpp b/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.cpp
index 24d2c0ebac..9ef022885d 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.cpp
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.cpp
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ bool games_config::add_game(const std::string& key, const std::string& path)
 
 	if (m_save_on_dirty)
 	{
-		return save();
+		return save_nl();
 	}
 
 	return true;
@@ -90,10 +90,8 @@ bool games_config::add_external_hdd_game(const std::string& key, std::string& pa
 	return false;
 }
 
-bool games_config::save()
+bool games_config::save_nl()
 {
-	std::lock_guard lock(m_mutex);
-
 	YAML::Emitter out;
 	out << m_games;
 
@@ -109,6 +107,12 @@ bool games_config::save()
 	return false;
 }
 
+bool games_config::save()
+{
+	std::lock_guard lock(m_mutex);
+	return save_nl();
+}
+
 void games_config::load()
 {
 	std::lock_guard lock(m_mutex);
diff --git a/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.h b/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.h
index 5e448f92de..69cdce71cf 100644
--- a/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.h
+++ b/rpcs3/Emu/games_config.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ public:
 	bool save();
 
 private:
+	bool save_nl();
 	void load();
 
 	std::map<std::string, std::string> m_games;